Letter to Stéphane Dion - Re: Attempts to Privatize or Deregulate Canada Post and Upcoming Election

BY EMAIL AND MAIL

 

Stéphane Dion
Leader, Liberal Party
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A OA6

Dear Mr. Dion:

 

Re: Attempts to Privatize or Deregulate Canada Post and Upcoming Election

 

Canada Post’s competition and conservative forces have been working overtime on undermining our public post office since the Tories were elected. International mailers have been lobbying members of Parliament from all parties and the federal government now appears to be considering a reduction in Canada Post’s exclusive privilege to satisfy the concerns of international mailers. In addition, the conservative think tank, the CD Howe Institute, is arguing for full privatization and deregulation. 

 

Papers on privatization and deregulation

I am enclosing, for your information, the study the CD Howe Institute released which calls for a 'rethink' of the role and mandate of Canada Post, including privatization and gradual deregulation. Please note that this document was produced in English only and that a French version will follow in the near future.

I am also enclosing a paper the union produced called ' Postal Deregulation: Its Impact on Postal Workers and the Response of a Postal Union.'  This paper was presented at the Rutger's 2005 Postal Economics and Delivery Conference in Geneva. It addresses the following questions pertaining to deregulation:

1. What have the experts said about the role of the exclusive privilege in Canada and the likely consequences of deregulation?
2. Are there lessons that can be learned from existing experiences with postal liberalization?
3. What would the impact of postal deregulation in Canada be on employees, the postal service, customers and the public?
4. How should the union respond to the prospect of deregulation?

The union's paper contains ten compelling reasons to oppose deregulation of postal services.

 

Positions on privatization and deregulation

The government says it has no plans to privatize Canada Post, and Canada Post President Moya Greene says she is 'not aware of any changes on the part of the government with respect to its ownership of Canada Post.'

The government has not made a similar statement regarding deregulation. It has informed the union that 'no changes to Canada Post's exclusive privilege would be considered without thorough policy analysis. As you are aware, the Canada Post Corporation Act defines Canada Post's exclusive privilege; thus, any changes to that privilege would require legislative amendment and public debate in Parliament.' 

Greene has dodged questions about whether she has had discussions with the government about this issue. She has also dismissed the importance of the exclusive privilege by saying things like, 'The remaining lettermail monopoly is more illusion than reality.”

You can get more information on what Canada Post and the government are saying and the CUPW's fight to stop closures, privatization and deregulation on the union’s website at: http://www.publicpostoffice.ca.

As you know, the union is very eager to obtain the Liberal Party's position on privatization and deregulation as well as the other issues we have identified so that we can provide CUPW members with all the facts come an election (See letter to John McKay dated November 1, 2006 and letter to you dated January 17, 2007).

We look forward to hearing from you on these very important matters.

Yours truly,

Deborah Bourque
National President

Encl.

c.c. John McKay, MP
National Executive Committee
National Executive Board
National Union Representatives
Regional Union Representatives
Specialists