LETTER

Post Office review: serve communities

 

I worked as a postal worker in the Ottawa area for almost 38 years. And having participated in previous public reviews of Canada Post, I understand the importance of such a process.

As National Vice President with the CUPW, I saw first-hand the devastating impacts of Canada Post management's self-destructive decision-making with the obvious support of Stephen Harper's conservative government.

The elimination of door-to-door mail delivery was a monumental error. Letter carriers are the face of Canada Post. They speak with customers in both business and residential areas every day. This results in Canada Post's service being used more. With centralized delivery (sites), the face to face contact is greatly reduced, to the detriment of our public service.

When one considers the cost of additional vehicles, gas, insurance, the elimination of thousands of good-paying jobs for future generations creates poverty (unemployment, social assistance costs), as well as the negative impact on our environment of needing more delivery vehicles to drive from community box to community box, not to mention customers using their vehicles to obtain their mail. The decision to eliminate home delivery must be reversed!

Canada Post Corporation has been profitable for almost 20 years, so improving services, adding banking services, and having our Crown Corporation lead the way in supporting a green economy makes good business sense and will be of benefit and service to all Canadians for years to come.

Readers can learn more at DeliveringCommunityPower.ca
Donald Lafleur, Ottawa