Letter to Michael Ignatieff - Re: Canada Post and privatization through Private-Public Partnerships (P3s)

Michael Ignatieff
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Dear Mr. Ignatieff:

On behalf of the 56,000 members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), I am writing to congratulate you on becoming the new leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.

I am also writing to update you on a matter of urgent and utmost importance.

All parties in the House of Commons are officially opposed to postal privatization, yet the Conservative government recently announced intentions to create PPP Canada Inc., a Crown Corporation designed to manage and encourage privatization through Public-Private Partnerships (P3s). Recent moves suggest that Canada Post is working with the government to pursue privatization of our public post office through P3s.

This would contradict government’s own position on privatization of Canada Post.
On April 21, 2008, the federal government launched a strategic review of Canada Post, with guiding principles, which include a commitment that “Canada Post will not be privatized and will remain a Crown corporation.”

We believe a Liberal, NDP coalition supported by the Bloc truly represents a majority of voters. Parliamentarians prepared to set aside their partisanship in the interest of the country have galvanized our support. However, the strategic review of Canada Post will continue no matter what the House of Commons looks like in the New Year, which is why we are asking to meet with you as Liberal Party leader to discuss the future of public postal services.

Yours truly,
Denis Lemelin
National President

cc: All CUPW locals, NEC, REC, National URs, Regional URs, Specialists