Resolution: Save Public Post Offices and Rural Delivery

WHEREAS the report of the Canada Post Corporation Strategic Review (CPCSR) recommends that the current moratorium on post office closures in rural and small towns be replaced with a mechanism involving new rules and procedures, including the ability to replace public post offices with private outlets.

WHEREAS the report also recommends that rural mailbox delivery be reconsidered.

WHEREAS these recommendations, if implemented by the federal government, would undermine public postal service and jobs in our community and fundamentally change the nature of Canada Post’s retail and delivery network.

WHEREAS the report proposes that Canada Post’s highly inadequate community consultation process be used when closing or “rationalizing” a post office/outlet and that a similar process be used when replacing rural mailbox delivery with delivery to a community box, green box or post office.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT______________________________________write to Rob Merrifield, the Minister responsible for Canada Post, and request that the government preserve public postal service and jobs in our community by rejecting CPCSR recommendations that would:

1. Put an end to the moratorium on post office closures in rural and small towns and give  Canada Post the flexibility to close post offices covered by the current moratorium or convert these public post offices to private outlets
2. Cut delivery to rural mailboxes without exploring all options or properly consulting with residents or the representatives of rural delivery workers.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we request that Minister Merrifield consult with the public, postal unions and other major stakeholders to develop a uniform and democratic process for making fundamental changes to Canada Post's retail and delivery network.

MAILING INFORMATION

Please send your resolution to:  Rob Merrifield, Minister of State for Transport, Place de Ville, Tower C, 29th Floor, 330 Sparks Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0N5.

Please send copies of your resolution to:

1. Denis Lemelin, President, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, 377 Bank Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 1Y3
2. Your member of Parliament. You can get your MP’s name, phone number and address by calling 1-800 463-6868 (at no charge) or going to the Parliament of Canada website: http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/index.asp?Language=E
3. Basil Stewart, President, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, 24 Clarence St, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5P3