Letter to Lawrence Cannon - Subject: Mandate Review and International Mail Issue

Lawrence Cannon
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
Place de Ville, Tower C, 29^th Floor
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0N5

 

Dear Mr. Cannon:

Subject: Mandate Review and International Mail Issue

You have stated that you are considering doing a mandate review of Canada Post for the first time in 11 years. We have heard that the government is also drafting legislation to remove international letters from Canada Post’s exclusive privilege to deliver letters and that it intends to table this legislation prior to or during a mandate review. The union would like to know if this is true. For our part, we do not understand why the government would make such a big move prior to conducting a review. Arguably, the exclusive privilege is central to Canada Post’s mandate of providing basic customary postal service while improving service, operating on a financially self-sustaining basis and balancing the objectives of the corporation with the needs of its employees. CUPW does not think the exclusive privilege should be dealt with as a side issue. The union strongly believes that it should be considered in the context of the post office’s mandate, as it was during the last mandate review. We are fairly certain that the public and other major stakeholders would agree.

I would appreciate a prompt response to this letter. I would also like to request a response to my letter dated December 20, 2006 on a similar issue.

 

Yours truly,

 

Deborah Bourque
National President

 

 

Cc:      National Executive Committee
            Regional Executive Committees
            National Union Representatives
            Regional Union Representatives
            CUPW Specialists
            All CUPW locals
            Moya Greene, President of Canada Post
            All members of Parliament
            Gilles Duceppe, Leader, Bloc Quebecois
            Stephen Harper, Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada
            Jack Layton, Leader, New Democratic Party
            Stéphane Dion, Leader, Liberal Party
            Leslie Schous, President, Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association
            Richard Des Lauriers, President, Union of Postal Communications Employees,
            Public Service Alliance of Canada