For Immediate Release  

Ottawa – The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) will ensure the voices of postal workers and the public are heard during the government’s strategic review of Canada Post according to Denis Lemelin, National President of CUPW.

Yesterday, Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon announced a strategic review of Canada Post, to be conducted by an advisory panel that will report in December 2008. The strategic review will rely extensively on information provided by Canada Post. The panel will consult with major stakeholders, including unions, but will ask the public to provide written submissions by mail, email or through a government website.

“The government that campaigned promising transparency and accountability has announced a review of Canada Post that lacks both,” said Lemelin.

“This is the public’s post office,” said Lemelin. “People need public hearings in rural and urban locations so that they can have their say about their post office. CUPW will ensure this happens one way or another.”

Lemelin said it would be unreasonable and unaccountable to expect people to simply send submissions to Ottawa.

“We are also concerned that the review’s advisory panel will be relying on information provided by Canada Post,” said Lemelin. “It is not clear how transparent the review process will be and whether the union and others will get to see all this information and rebut it if necessary.”

He noted that previous reviewers of the post office have complained about the inadequacy of the corporation’s information.

“CUPW will insist that the review be more transparent and accountable,” said Lemelin. “We will urge the panel to make recommendations that benefit the public and postal workers, not just Canada Post and its largest customers.”

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