The Editor:
What if Canada Post was part of the post-COVID recovery?
On Jan. 18, Canada Post Corporation (CPC) announced that 2020 was a record year for parcel delivery.
With this kind of growth, a corporation like Canada Post must roll up its sleeves and review its values, its commitment and the service portfolio it offers to the population, including businesses.
To achieve this, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has launched a bold campaign called “delivering community power.”
Whether in the city or in the country, in remote areas or in the suburbs, post offices are everywhere throughout Canada. CPC has more than 6,400 outlets, the largest retail network in the country.
CUPW proposes to accelerate the electrification of Canada Post’s vehicle fleet. CPC operates more than 20,000 vehicles, generating 65 kilotons of CO2 every year. The acquisition of electric vehicles would benefit the environment, stimulate the automotive sector and create decent jobs.
Now, imagine if Canada Post installed charging stations at its facilities and made them available to all, creating the largest network of charging stations in Canada.
Canada’s extensive postal network could also provide crucial banking services, especially in remote, rural and Indigenous communities, which have been abandoned by major banks. Did you know that there are only 66 bank branches in all 700 First Nation communities? A more inclusive postal bank would reduce the dependence of thousands of workers on payday lenders and their usurious interest rates.
My 56,000 brothers and sisters from CUPW will not accept that Canada Post is sitting idly, refusing to change its old values and habits. I urge you to contact the candidates in your riding to demand a strong postal service for the future. It’s up to you.
- Kate Holowatiuk, letter carrier
