Letter from David Christopherson, MP Hamilton Centre – Re: Rural mail delivery services

Denis Lemelin
President,
Canadian Union of Postal Workers
377 Bank St.
Ottawa, ON   K2P 1Y3

Dear Mr. Lemelin,

I am writing in response to a letter from your office, sent to me on March 17, 2008 concerning rural mail delivery services.

Like the leadership and members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, I am concerned that Canada Post is failing to respect rural residents, and the workers who deliver their mail, by refusing to properly consult before moving mail delivery to a community box, green box or a post office.

This is unacceptable, and is placing an unnecessary burden on rural residents and mail carriers.

I raised this issue with my colleagues in the New Democratic Party Caucus on April 9, 2008. The federal NDP Caucus, including myself and NDP Leader Jack Layton, unanimously supports CUPW in calling for a moratorium on cancelling rural mail delivery services until a proper consultation process is put in place. Furthermore, we believe that this issue should be part of the current Canada Post mandate review, and decisions on rural mail delivery should only be made after that review is complete.

Today, I asked the Infrastructure Minister to support the moratorium – a copy of my questions and his answers are attached. Unfortunately, I do not believe that the Conservative government is willing to listen to Canadians on this issue, and they will continue to cut services without justification wherever possible.

My NDP colleagues and I will continue to fight for rural mail delivery services, and we appreciate the assistance of CUPW staff and members across the country in making this urgent issue a national priority.

I would be happy to meet with you concerning this matter or other issues such as Bill C-14, which we also continue to fight.

Thank you for raising this important issue with me.

Yours truly,

David Christopherson, MP
Hamilton Centre