The future of Canada Post has come under scrutiny as federal officials and postal workers offered sharply contrasting views during two days of Commons hearings on the Crown corporation’s financial crisis and service model.
Appearing before the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates on Oct. 23, Minister of Government Transformation Joël Lightbound defended Ottawa’s plan to modernize Canada Post, saying the postal service “is losing about $10 million every day” and that “doing nothing would be the most irresponsible choice of all.” He said reform is necessary to make the corporation sustainable while maintaining service “for every community in Canada.”
At a follow-up hearing on Oct. 28, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers and the Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association warned that the government’s plan would “gut the public post office,” eliminate thousands of jobs and hurt rural and northern communities. CUPW president Jan Simpson said Canada Post’s losses stem mainly from lower parcel volumes tied to “labour uncertainty,” not from its structure, and that cuts or closures would only make matters worse.
The postmasters’ association called for stronger consultation and an extended review process before any closures, along with renewed protection for rural post offices and jobs.
A full detailed version of this story appears in the printed editions of Canadian Stamp News and Canadian Coin News.