Potential job losses in mail, union warns
Canada Post’s new union president is warning Canadians that their mail delivery could be in jeopardy and hundreds of jobs could be lost.
In an interview with Sun Media, new Canada Post national union president Denis Lemelin accused the Conservatives and Canada Post CEO Moya Greene of attempting to deregulate postal services in Canada.
Lemelin pointed to the Harper government’s recently announced “strategic review” of Canada Post, set to examine which services should remain under the monopoly of Canada Post and which should become fair game in a competitive market.
A final report is expected in December.
Canada Post currently has a monopoly over the delivery of letters up to 500 grams to 15 million doors across the country.
Lemelin fears that deregulation could mean that Canadians in metropolitan areas might have their daily mail handled by UPS, Federal Express or Purolator.
“These private companies could decide to implement distribution centres in the greater areas and handle mail delivery for Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto,” he said.
He also warned that deregulation would result in hundreds of layoffs across Canada and an increase in stamp prices.
“The private sector would invest in the greater metropolitan areas — where it’s profitable,” he said.
“The public postal service would end up with less profitable sectors, such as rural areas.
Canada Post’s new union president is warning Canadians that their mail delivery could be in jeopardy and hundreds of jobs could be lost.
In an interview with Sun Media, new Canada Post national union president Denis Lemelin accused the Conservatives and Canada Post CEO Moya Greene of attempting to deregulate postal services in Canada.
Lemelin pointed to the Harper government’s recently announced “strategic review” of Canada Post, set to examine which services should remain under the monopoly of Canada Post and which should become fair game in a competitive market.
A final report is expected in December.
Canada Post currently has a monopoly over the delivery of letters up to 500 grams to 15 million doors across the country.
Lemelin fears that deregulation could mean that Canadians in metropolitan areas might have their daily mail handled by UPS, Federal Express or Purolator.
“These private companies could decide to implement distribution centres in the greater areas and handle mail delivery for Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto,” he said.
He also warned that deregulation would result in hundreds of layoffs across Canada and an increase in stamp prices.
“The private sector would invest in the greater metropolitan areas — where it’s profitable,” he said.
“The public postal service would end up with less profitable sectors, such as rural areas.
“Canada Post would automatically turn deficits and would die off slowly but surely, leaving a large proportion of the population the private sector would not want to take care of in a jam.”
Lemelin also said that universal mail service across the country could even be jeopardized.
