OTTAWA – The federal government has launched a review of the future of Canada Post and already, a political critic is suggesting rural post offices are not on the agenda.
The mandate review committee headed by Liberal appointee George Radwanski of Toronto is supposed to look at how Canada Post can provide “a universal, self-sustaining postal service.”
It is open to submissions from anyone who wants to send in opinions, with a reporting deadline of July 31, 1996. #It will hold public hearings in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax.
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And there, says Saskatchewan New Democrat MP Len Taylor, is part of the problem.
There are no rural hearings scheduled.
The mandate that Radwanski and the review committee have is to look at ways to make Canada Post competitive rather than enhancing service standards.
“Without emphasis on service and with public hearings only in large urban areas, the people who are most dependent on the post office for their communications will be shortchanged,” #Taylor said.
“The Liberal government has an obligation to say to rural Canada … that the service needs of rural Canada will be protected during this review.”
To date, the Liberal response to the rural post office issue has been to impose a moratorium on rural closings. Post offices closed during the Conservative government have not been reopened.
