An advocate for improved rural postal service left a Parliament Hill meeting last week saying she has indications the Liberal government will fulfil a promise to strengthen rural post offices.
However, Cynthia Patterson, co-ordinator of Rural Dignity, said her first meeting with Diane Marleau, minister responsible for Canada Post, was strained and unpleasant.
And it was unclear how Canada Post will finance an expansion of the role of rural post offices, since Marleau insisted the corporation cannot operate money-losing ventures.
“Rural Dignity is cautiously optimistic in some areas, including a belief that they (the government) will make a genuine attempt to investigate expedited mail service,” she said. “Also, they are trying a pilot project in Newfoundland to provide more services through the post office and we are encouraged by that and hope they do others.”
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However, Patterson said there was a distinct lack of detail in Marleau’s promises. The minister became testy when pressed for details beyond a general commitment to better rural service, she said.
“We’re not at all clear how this will be financed and we are troubled by the minister’s absolute insistence that Canada Post fully pay its own way and receive no subsidies.”
When the Liberals were first elected in 1993, they moved quickly to announce a moratorium on rural postal closings.
Action plan promised
Last autumn, when a report by consultant George Radwanski urged an improvement in services to rural areas, Marleau endorsed the recommendation and promised an action plan after consultations.
Patterson and Rural Dignity asked for the late-January meeting because the promised consultation had not taken place.
In the meantime, Rural Dignity had joined a coalition of unions, students and poverty groups opposing government plans to get Canada Post out of the business of delivering some kinds of admail.
They argue it will cost 10,000 part-time jobs, will take revenue away from Canada Post and will not end the junk mail problem that Canadians love to hate.
“Maybe our activity on the junk mail issue was part of the reason for her hostility,” said Patterson. “Whatever it was, this was a very strained, uncomfortable meeting.”
She said the minister’s staff promised to consider Rural Dignity’s warning that if Canada Post is taken out of the Priority Post courier service, many parts of rural Canada will lose access to fast service because private companies will not serve sparsely populated areas with quick delivery at affordable prices.
