EDMONTON – The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) held a public forum Saturday, to hear how Edmontonians feel about changes to postal service in the country.
The union, which represents Canada Post workers, says the company did not properly consult with the public before announcing the end of door-to-door postal service and an increase in the price of stamps.
“Albertans — and all Canadians — need to be consulted on these changes,” CUPW Edmonton president Bev Ray said in a media release. “Removing door-to-door delivery deeply affects the lives of many Albertans, particularly seniors and those with mobility issues.”
“I think that there’s a lot of people who really do not understand what’s about to come,” added Edmonton-Strathcona MP Linda Duncan, who attended Saturday’s forum.
On Dec. 11, Canada Post made the announcement that it will phase out home delivery in urban centres within the next five years. The changeover is slated to begin this summer.
READ MORE: Canada Post to phase out urban door-to-door delivery
The CUPW feels the changes will negatively impact citizens, particularly those with fixed incomes and those living with disabilities.
Mike Tarnawski, a retired Canada Post worker, says his main concern is navigating icy, slippery sidewalks in the winter once community mailboxes are installed.
“Health and safety has always been my prime concern. And I am, I am very worried about people falling, because I’m getting to that age now too where it could be me.”
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READ MORE: How Canada Post’s home delivery cuts could affect seniors and the disabled
Another concern is a loss of jobs; as a result of the new business plan, Canada Post said it will eliminate 6,000 to 8,000 positions.
“This is just one more in a long line of cuts to front-line services for Canadians,” said Duncan.
After being grilled by MPs in Ottawa in December, Canada Post CEO Deepak Chopra defended the service cuts, saying the changes are necessary in order for the carrier to survive.
“If the mail is changing its shape and size, don’t we think the mailbox should change its shape and size too?” Chopra asked in December.
“So what we’re trying to do is adapt (to) the changing needs of Canadians.”
WATCH: Conservatives questioned over Canada Post changes in the House of Commons (Jan 28)
Canada Posts says it held public consultation meetings in 46 communities in every province across the country over the summer, to hear input from Canadians, including municipal officials, business owners, seniors and students.
“Most people understood, and still understand, that mail is on the decline and we have a business model that is built largely on mail,” said Canada Post spokesperson Jon Hamilton.
“Canadians understand that change is necessary and we need to make it as quickly as possible to do it right and that’s the feedback that we heard.”
Hamilton says Canada Post will continue to ask for input from Canadians as it implements the changes, particularly when it comes to the end of door-to-door service.
“As we move forward to implement community mailboxes to the one-third of Canadians that still get door-to-door service, we’ll be talking to each and every Canadian that’s going through that.”
However, those at Saturday’s forum say Canada Post needs to be looking at ways it can expand its business to become more profitable, rather than cutting services. Union members believe postal banking is something the company should look into.
“Postal banking would be a delivery of financial services through post office outlets,” said George Kuehnbaum, national secretary/treasurer, CUPW. “Many postal administrations around the world have gone into postal banking. For the Swiss Post, for example, 70 per cent of their revenues come from their financial services.”
Hamilton says Canada Post has looked into postal banking in the past, but adds “it’s outside our core area of strengths.”
“The reality is, in order to maintain postal service we would have to launch a bank that would be able to turn a billion dollars in profit within the next five years. And I don’t think that’s feasible.”
Hamilton says Canada Post is looking into new, innovative ways to expand its parcel delivery, which is where he says the company’s future lies.
READ MORE: Canada Post launches same-day delivery service in Toronto-area
Public meetings are being held by local unions in cities across Canada. Concerned citizens are being urged to contact their MPs. Duncan suggests even going as far as contacting the Federal Minister of Transport, Lisa Raitt, or the Prime Minister.
“I’d like to see the government finally stop making decisions before they consult Canadians.”
Canada Post also provided the following written statement to Global News Saturday:
“Canadians are helping our parcel business by shopping online, they are shifting away from mail. Ignoring that reality would quickly result in losses big enough to threaten the very existence of the postal service. Becoming a drain on the taxpayers is not an option.
Canada Post released its 5-Point Action Plan after completing a series of consultations across the country. The most significant move we can make – the move to community mailboxes – will not impact the 10 million households that are already served by a Community Mailbox, Apartment Lobby Box or Rural Mailbox. Most businesses will also maintain their current service. For the remaining households that receive mail to the door, we understand there will be new challenges we will need to address. We will be thoughtful and understanding in our approach and with a five-year rollout, have given ourselves the time necessary to do it right.
Canada Post remains committed to serving Canadians. We are making the changes necessary to ensure we can not only maintain service to all 15 million households, but meet the changing postal needs of Canadians,” said Anick Losier, a spokesperson with Canada Post.
With files from Shannon Greer, Global News.
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