Amos holds forum on future of Canada Post
Val-des-Monts Mayor Jacques Laurin kicked off MP Will Amos’ forum on Canada Post held in St.-Pierre-de-Wakefield on October 21. Laurin noted his service of 35 years as a postie. He spoke highly of the speed of delivery, with it taking two days to get a letter to Quebec City. With the sharp decline in the quantity of mail, due to the Internet, he feels it might be time to consider going to three-times-a-week delivery, perhaps twice a week in rural areas.
In response, Jean-Philippe Grenier, a Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) staff member, pointed to difficulties in moving to three-times-a-week delivery, especially considering the growing emphasis on parcel delivery. Notice of a parcel’s arrival would be delayed.
This approach, said Grenier, would also make it more difficult for Canada Post to provide timely flyer service, and actual savings would amount to very little in terms of total annual revenue.
As for CUPW’s push for postal banking, Laurin said, “They’ve been talking about that for 30 years.” Much of the session was devoted to the advantages of postal banking. In other countries, postal banking has been an important revenue source. It was suggested that, in this country, it would fill important gaps left by withdrawal of banks from smaller communities and by inadequate services to people of low income, who are often forced to rely on expensive cheque-cashing companies. While the advantages of postal banking were touted at the forum, there were no voices raised in opposition to the idea, though it is known that the big banks are against the idea.
Jean Barrette, a member of FADOQ (Fédération de l’age d’or du Québec) held that the advisory committee to Judy Foote, the Minister responsible for Canada Post, should reach out to FADOQ for its recommendations. He feels that special arrangements should be made for delivery of necessities to the aged and disabled. Amos explained that the advisory committee’s report, due in December, will then go to a parliamentary committee, and their report will result in action taken by the government in 2018.