jeudi 10 décembre 2009

Postal service in Canada's regions

I was happy to be in back in Ottawa yesterday for many reasons - meetings with the Quebec Caucus, National Caucus, OLO, QP, then Caucus Christmas Party.

But the best part of the day was when I learned that Michael released our plan to introduce a Rural Canadian Postal Service Charter to protect and restore rural home postal service, assure universality of postal service across the country, and assure that Canada Post expands its consultation with its clientele before making any changes to services in the future.

Rural communities and their businesses rely on effective postal service. It is a key part of our rural identity across the country.

I personally cringe every time I drive by one of those ugly new big brown mass mail box installations, and remember the struggle my parents undertook to try to overturn a decision to end service to their mail box (a box that I actually got for them years ago...)

Rural post offices are also a major part of small communities, acting as social, economic and political focal points. One of my tactics during the last campaign in the more isolated communities was to hit every post office, talk to the clerk. Who doesn't know the post-master in those communities???

Decisions over the past three years have put at risk this important symbol of Canada in our regional communities, and it has to stop.

Bravo to Michael and the caucus for taking the lead on this issue!

2 commentaires:

sassy a dit...

This is good news.

Are you aware that Canada Post has recently been removing mail boxes from streets in some areas of Ottawa. This may not seem such a big deal but it does create a problem for the elderly / physically challanged who don't drive as they now must walk much further (if they can) to mail a letter.

William Hogg a dit...

It is a pattern across the country, in big cities and small villages. I am hoping this Charter will be passed quickly through the House and Senate in the New Year...