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Transcontinental moving flyer distribution in Mirabel to Canada Post during appeal

Click to play video: 'Mayor Plante flips Montreal’s flyer distribution system from ‘opt out’ to ‘opt in’'
Mayor Plante flips Montreal’s flyer distribution system from ‘opt out’ to ‘opt in’
WATCH: In a move aimed to dramatically improve Montreal's waste management, the city announced a change to the system for the home delivery of flyers in plastic bags commonly known as Publisac. Only homes with stickers requesting the bags will continue to receive them but the new opt-in system for flyers is facing some push back. Global’s Tim Sargeant reports – Apr 11, 2022

TC Transcontinental says it is halting distribution of its printed flyers in Mirabel after its effort to quash a city bylaw was rejected by the Quebec Superior Court.

The Montreal-based packaging and printing company says the bylaw requiring consumers to request its so-called Publisac would lead to the distribution method’s demise due to prohibitive costs and complexity.

The flyers printed by Transcontinental will instead be distributed by Canada Post, affecting 16 jobs.

Transcontinental says in an email that it hopes to reinstate the Publisac in the city north of Montreal if it successfully appeals the bylaw, which it says makes its door-to-door flyer distribution model not viable.

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Transcontinental says an opt-out system is simple and effective for those who do not wish to receive the Publisac used by more than 200,000 Quebec households.

Mirabel switched to an opt-in system for Publisac in October 2019. Montreal plans to adopt such a system starting in May 2023 as it aims to become zero waste by 2030.

“We find it very unfortunate to have to discontinue the distribution of the Publisac in Mirabel after more than 30 years of operations in the city,” said Patrick Brayley, senior vice-president of distribution.

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