Help Defeat Bill C-14 and Deregulation of Canada Post – Take three minutes: Make a call or send a letter

The federal government has proposed legislation (Bill C-14) that would, if passed, partially deregulate Canada Post by removing international letters from Canada Post's exclusive privilege to collect, transmit and deliver letters.

What’s happening with the bill?

Second reading of this bill began in November and will continue in the new year when MPs return from their constituencies.

The Bloc and the NDP are opposed to Bill C-14. Some Liberals support the bill while others oppose it. The governing Conservative Party introduced Bill C-14. However, there are indications that some Conservative members of Parliament (MPs) are starting to have second thoughts about the bill.

What can you do?

You can call or write your MP if they are Conservative or Liberal and ask them to take a second look at Bill C-14 before they vote on this bill at second reading.

You should also call or write your MP if they belong to the Bloc Quebecois or New Democratic Party. These representatives need to be thanked for opposing Bill C-14 and they also need to know that this is a priority for their constituents.

You can make a difference.

MPs have many issues vying for their attention. The issues that get noticed are the ones that are repeatedly raised through calls and letters. MPs tend to care when their constituents care. Please consider calling or writing.

Calls: There are speaking points on the back of this bulletin

You can also get additional information on this issue from your local or the PublicPostOffice.ca website.

Letters: If you don’t want to call your MP, you can send your own letter or the union’s letter.

You can get a copy of the union’s letter from your local or the union’s website: http://www.publicpostoffice.ca  (Click on Take Action)

Finding your MP: You can get your MP's name, constituency address and phone number:

1) by going to http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/index.asp?Language=E and typing in your postal code.

2) by calling Elections Canada at 1-800-463-6868 (no charge). Just tell the person who answers the phone that you would like the name, address and phone number of your MP.

Why should you care?

Currently, Canada Post has the exclusive privilege to collect transmit and deliver letters, including international letters, in order to finance the corporation’s universal service obligation.  If passed, Bill C-14 would give private companies the right to handle international letters. CUPW believes that it will be increasingly difficult for our public post office to provide affordable service to everyone, no matter where they live, if the government erodes the very mechanism that funds universal service – the exclusive privilege.

Bill C-14 could also set the stage for further deregulation. If Canada Post were fully deregulated, private companies would have the right to compete for both domestic and international letters but they would not necessarily be obliged to provide universal service like our public post office. Deregulation would threaten revenues, services and jobs at Canada Post and ultimately its ability to provide universal postal service and a uniform basic rate.

Invest three minutes in your future and the future of universal public postal service.