Local politicians and business leaders have added their voices to the review of the country’s mail delivery system.
On Tuesday, the federal Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates was in Leduc to hear the public’s views on existing Canada Post services, as well as recommendations for the future.
St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Lynda Moffat spoke to the relevance of the postal system to not only businesses, but to the residents of St. Albert.
She drew from a survey conducted by the Chamber in the spring on the proposed closure of the St. Albert Post Office, telling the committee that many businesses use the post office on a regular basis. They found it unacceptable they would have to visit retail outlets to conduct their affairs and many said they would look to the private sector.
She quoted one respondent who called Canada Post “its own worst enemy.”
“We would like to encourage Canada Post to look for new and innovative directions of providing services to Canadians, rather than eliminating the services that are so greatly valued,” Moffat told the committee.
St. Albert-based lawyer Eric Oddleifson also spoke at Tuesday’s meeting in Leduc.
Upon taking power, the Liberal government promised to conduct a review of the postal system. So far the committee has heard from 105 witnesses at 48 meetings across the country.
Last week, Sturgeon County Coun. Wayne Bokenfohr released a joint statement calling for more local input in the Canada Post reform.
Along with councillors from Toronto and Moncton, N.B., Bokenfohr is requesting more local influence over delivery models and the placement of community mailboxes, as well as greater security of mail delivery.
“Identity theft, robbery, vandalism are all real problems in our community arising from unsupervised community and super mailboxes,” said Bokenfohr. “Where possible, we should protect door-to-door delivery to rural mailboxes and develop new tools for ensuring community mailboxes are safe and secure.”
Loss of door-to-door service, public safety and security, and placement of community mailboxes are all concerns that have been voiced by municipal governments across Canada.
Over 600 municipalities and 13 municipal organizations have passed resolutions or sent letters to the federal government in support of door-to-door delivery or calling for a halt to delivery changes until proper consultation is undertaken.
Several municipalities have also called on the federal government to look at postal banking as an option for ensuring the long-term viability of Canada Post.
A report on Canada Post will be presented in the House of Commons in December 2016.
The public can submit comments online until Oct. 21 at http://www.parl.gc.ca/Committees/en/OGGO.
