For Immediate Release

Ottawa – The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) welcomes the recommendation of an independent advisory panel to not deregulate public postal services.

In a report made public yesterday, a government-appointed advisory panel categorically rejected the deregulation of Canada Post.

“The public and postal workers said no to deregulation and the panel listened. This is a real victory for the people’s post office,” said CUPW National President Denis Lemelin.

The advisory panel received hundreds of submissions from individuals, businesses, community organizations and municipalities. An overwhelming majority of them opposed the deregulation of Canada Post.

Lemelin noted that the advisory panel thoroughly examined the international trends of other postal administrations around the world before it recommended that Canada Post not be deregulated.

“But it’s not all good news,” said Lemelin, “especially for rural communities.”

The advisory panel recommends that the current moratorium on post office closures in rural and small towns be replaced with new rules and procedures, including the ability to replace public post offices with private outlets.

“There will be a huge public outcry if this happens,” said Lemelin. “Private outlets would weaken service and destroy some of the better paying jobs in those communities.”

It is now up to the federal government to decide which recommendations it will adopt.

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More information: Richard McGrath, Communications Specialist (CUPW), 613-222-3952 (cell).