The official consultation period might be over, but the local arm of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) isn’t done trying to make sure the Perron Street post office stays open.
The 30 days community members had to send Canada Post feedback on the proposal to close the downtown post office came to an end earlier this week.
However, the union has decided to hold a public town hall meeting and workshop on expanding services at the location on April 6 at the St. Albert Curling Club.
“We want it to be transparent,” said Larry Dionne, the president of the CUPW local.
A presentation is planned, and St. Albert politicians and Canada Post are being invited to attend as well.
“There’s going to be an open mike for people to voice their concerns,” Dionne said.
There will be two sessions, one from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and the second from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The union has been active in trying to keep the post office open. The building has been operating as a Canada Post office since the early 1960s.
“People need to come out if they want to keep this post office,” Dionne said.
While Canada Post never turns down feedback, said Anick Losier of Canada Post, the Crown corporation has generally found that 30 days is enough for community members to make their feelings known on a proposed closure.
With the comment period ending earlier this week, she said the next step is to compile all of the submitted feedback and for a committee to examine what people had to say.
“We take this decision very seriously,” Losier said.
Losier said she couldn’t provide an exact timeline for when Canada Post will make the decision. The time it takes to decide can vary, she said.
Losier said she was unable to provide an idea of how much feedback was submitted about the proposed closure at this point.
She noted that people often get emotionally attached to the post office, but said even if the downtown location closes, services available to postal service users will remain the same.
There are four other postal outlets within five kilometres of the downtown office. The outlets are based within host businesses such as Shoppers Drug Mart or London Drugs and operated by staff provided by the franchise.
Phil Legault, another spokesperson for Canada Post, said in an email that while the Perron Street post office currently offers admail drop-off and student loan assistance, if the office is closed those services could be made available at another nearby location.
“These are matters we will take into consideration when making a decision regarding the post office,” Legault said in an email.
He noted that employees at franchise outlets do receive mandatory training.
If the Perron Street post office is closed, three employees will be impacted. Legault said they have job security and the employees could be reassigned. Dionne has raised concerns about the workers having to travel further afield if the office is closed.
St. Albert city council and the chamber of commerce have both written Canada Post to support keeping the Perron Street office open. St. Albert-Edmonton MP Michael Cooper has also written a letter noting that his office has received feedback from worried constituents and requesting a business case for the proposed closure and a plan to maintain postal services for St. Albertans.
