Erin I have often wondered why Chopra didn't just move direct delivery to two days each week? I can't see how anyone could complain about that as a cost and labour saving move that would have extremely limited impact?
From what I understand at the time, small business still wanted more regular service and the workforce was easier transitioned over to a smaller number of delivery sites than a large number less frequently. I am sure there were some metrics involved, as those were the two big options.
I live in a rural area in BC, at the end of a gravel road. Until the January Canada Post strike I checked the mail daily. There was seldom a day without at least a letter or a parcel or both.
After that strike there has been a big change. Parcels mostly come from Amazon and other courier services. Letters have become much less frequent, as banks and credit cards companies have created pressure to use online services. Altogether, now, I only need to check the mail box once or twice a week and even then it is often empty or carrying only fliers. If there is another strike that may be the end of Canada Post.
Sadly, like the typewriter, Canada Post is past its time ( in current form) . Watching my mailbox fill up with flyers is not what I would call Bang for My Tax Dollar Buck. Thank you Erin
In the heady days of the Postal Service, door to door mail delivery was a prudent way to solve a growing problem. My community rose from nothing to having a brand new three story post office within a decade. However, it wasn’t good enough as a population surge brought the need for footage to install post boxes and space for pedestrian traffic on a collision course with proper wicket service and sorting space. Newspaper reports from this era illustrate the frustrations of everyone involved and the local MP petitioned for home delivery to alleviate the situation.
In a current context, Mr. O’Toole correctly cites how conniving politicians can stifle a continuing evolution of our public services. (See: public healthcare, but don’t get me started.)
One of the great postal innovations in recent times is the use of street side community mail boxes. It is a hybrid form of mail delivery. It doesn’t require customers to travel to a post office to get their mail, but it streamlines the delivery process for the mail carrier in pursuit of business efficiency. Canadians should embrace these attempts to modernize Canada Post and if given the space to think about it, they would. Unfortunately politicians always know best and fritter away another public service into public contempt and abandonment.
Excellent and interesting context. As a kid, the old post office still had photos of the old Post Masters for the area. I believe these were political appointments. I haven’t researched it, but it was in a time that mail service was considered the only federal service that touched all citizens.
Digitization is changing the landscape certainly. But, so much of the CDN landscape is rural and companies like Amazon dominate the marketplace for purchases. But, they don't 'deliver'. They contract delivery services like: UPS, FedEx, DragonFly etc. These profit motivated (rather than "service" motivated) businesses use 'gig' workers to deliver. (Gig workers have few rights and are taken advantage of.) And, the 'last mile' remains unprofitable unless everyone in the rural area is expecting a parcel (doesn't even happen at Christmas) - so customers are waiting days/weeks for their parcel delivery while the delivery service has a large enough load to make it worthwhile.
Likewise - this is a one-way issue. Should a package need to be returned these delivery companies do not have a physical location in rural Canada - but Canada Post does. So, private enterprise serves the profitable part of the business and leaves the less profitable part to Canada Post service. Change is always challenging but one size does not fit all. Services are viable when they have a complete customer base. Currently, this change model has private enterprise eating the cream on top of the dessert while leaving the crust to government/crown services. The classic - wanting your cake and eating it too.
It is rather disappointing that 'blame Trudeau' is still the Conservative narrative. That train left the station some time ago.
Yes he was, Is, whatever. That individual is gone. Get over the blame game, move on move forward. In case you don't realize it, you are doing what every new government does once elected. Blame the last government that was in power. Its the easy way out.
Some very good points here. I try not to be overly partisan in these pieces, but this is one where blame needs to be landed at a few feet as there was no need to make that promise or stunt. The crown corp had a plan that should have been respected and that is the real point of this piece. Your point on gif workers and the cream being syphoned off is very good. I tried to propose some policies for the rise of gig work.
The least Canada Post can do is charge more for mail and parcels to rural areas. Rural homes generally cost less and have lower taxes than many urban homes. The rural mail recipient wants to have their cake —-same price and delivery for mail and parcels—- and eat it too, lower costs home ownership. I can rationalize supporting CP mail to rural areas if it is a fee structure by zones. Even rural homes have access to cell and internet services so their need for home delivery is reduced. The rural home owner surely goes “into town” for groceries, gas and appointments so having a community mailbox for pickup is reasonable.
There were talks of tiered pricing relating to distance and complexity of delivery. Hard to administer and at the end of the day the shift away from mail was the real issue.
Thanks Erin. A very thoughtful column. I'm of a similar vintage to you, so I love the payphone example. And no time for the buffoonary of Codere.
But I have to ask, why didn't the Harper government with the majority push further on this? If the answer to that is political pressures, then that's a huge opportunity lost. That's not to minimize the Liberal inaction of the past 10 years on thr file. I just have to say, it doesn't fill me with confidence of governments of any political stripe to deal with this situation or ones like supply management or housing, where solutions may involve some pain for some citizens.
Good point. The 5 point plan came out in the majority. To be fair, I think Harper should have floated privatization amid the minority governments if only to raise the seriousness of risks Canada Post was facing. Everything short of a vote (which would have caused an election) would have been a good idea.
No one here has talked about the continuing awfulness of Canada Post's service outside the cities. I have had to rely on Canada Post's services for 25 years, both as an individual and for my business. The frontline staff have been mostly fine but the policies they have had to implement regularly hampered effectiveness.
As to parcel delivery, Canada Post is one of three entities that service our area. Both the others are much better than Canada Post.
As a 38 year veteran of the postal wars... now retired and with a great pension thank you very much... I disagree that it is too late as your article suggests. Your focus on the 2 main combatants, the union and the government, is quite correct because it is these two groups who have taken us to where we are today and under this current structure positive change will not happen. While CPC may be a crown corporation and expected to be independent and self sustainable it is anything but. Legislation imposes severe restrictions and expectations on the company but not so on its competitors who are not obligated to deliver a letter to Halifax from Vancouver at the current rate. CUPW meanwhile must try to continually advance the financial and lifestyle security of those it represents. No different really than many publicly traded companies...like banks..who pay out nice dividends to shareholders who have an expectation that each year the bank will do better and the dividend higher. So what is the solution that will satisfy everyone? There is none and never will be but there is a path that the majority can live with that includes service and profitability but to do so both the union and the company must work together as equal partners with a focus on all Canadians..their customers.
Erin, Thank you for the what I would describe as an accurate history. As a 35 year veteran of the Canadian Postal Service, I also reflect on the challenges of today that were predicted many years in advance. I am grateful and proud of my own personal journey in the corporation, starting in a Union position of maintenance, going on to end. My career as a manager of operations. The real issue as I see it and encapsulated by your essay, I lies in the creation of Crown Corporations, a step towards privatization but never really being able to execute prudent business decisions. The leadership at CPC under Ms. Green and Mr. Chopra definitely understood the importance of adaptation. The 5 point action plan would have in my opinion lead us to a more sustainable balanced service. I was part of that plan , and the political interference is actually why we are we are at now. I’m thankful for my retirement and and the pension I receive, I am saddened at the political uncertainty!
Erin, Thank you for the what I would describe as an accurate history. As a 35 year veteran of the Canadian Postal Service, I also reflect on the challenges of today that were predicted many years in advance. I am grateful and proud of my own personal journey in the corporation, starting in a Union position of maintenance, going on to end. My career as a manager of operations. The real issue as I see it and encapsulated by your essay, I lies in the creation of Crown Corporations, a step towards privatization but never really being able to execute prudent business decisions. The leadership at CPC under Ms. Green and Mr. Chopra definitely understood the importance of adaptation. The 5 point action plan would have in my opinion lead us to a more sustainable balanced service. I was part of that plan , and the political interference is actually why we are we are at now. I’m thankful for my retirement and and the pension I receive, I am saddened at the political uncertainty!
Denis Coderre has been one of the most destructive politicians in the history of Canada.
I think this stunt was the beginning of the end for someone who has been quite successful.
Erin I have often wondered why Chopra didn't just move direct delivery to two days each week? I can't see how anyone could complain about that as a cost and labour saving move that would have extremely limited impact?
From what I understand at the time, small business still wanted more regular service and the workforce was easier transitioned over to a smaller number of delivery sites than a large number less frequently. I am sure there were some metrics involved, as those were the two big options.
I live in a rural area in BC, at the end of a gravel road. Until the January Canada Post strike I checked the mail daily. There was seldom a day without at least a letter or a parcel or both.
After that strike there has been a big change. Parcels mostly come from Amazon and other courier services. Letters have become much less frequent, as banks and credit cards companies have created pressure to use online services. Altogether, now, I only need to check the mail box once or twice a week and even then it is often empty or carrying only fliers. If there is another strike that may be the end of Canada Post.
Great reflections Andrew, but atypical before the strike. Demographics and you must have more people that like you than I do :)
Sadly, like the typewriter, Canada Post is past its time ( in current form) . Watching my mailbox fill up with flyers is not what I would call Bang for My Tax Dollar Buck. Thank you Erin
In the heady days of the Postal Service, door to door mail delivery was a prudent way to solve a growing problem. My community rose from nothing to having a brand new three story post office within a decade. However, it wasn’t good enough as a population surge brought the need for footage to install post boxes and space for pedestrian traffic on a collision course with proper wicket service and sorting space. Newspaper reports from this era illustrate the frustrations of everyone involved and the local MP petitioned for home delivery to alleviate the situation.
In a current context, Mr. O’Toole correctly cites how conniving politicians can stifle a continuing evolution of our public services. (See: public healthcare, but don’t get me started.)
One of the great postal innovations in recent times is the use of street side community mail boxes. It is a hybrid form of mail delivery. It doesn’t require customers to travel to a post office to get their mail, but it streamlines the delivery process for the mail carrier in pursuit of business efficiency. Canadians should embrace these attempts to modernize Canada Post and if given the space to think about it, they would. Unfortunately politicians always know best and fritter away another public service into public contempt and abandonment.
Excellent and interesting context. As a kid, the old post office still had photos of the old Post Masters for the area. I believe these were political appointments. I haven’t researched it, but it was in a time that mail service was considered the only federal service that touched all citizens.
Thanks for this! Great insights!
Digitization is changing the landscape certainly. But, so much of the CDN landscape is rural and companies like Amazon dominate the marketplace for purchases. But, they don't 'deliver'. They contract delivery services like: UPS, FedEx, DragonFly etc. These profit motivated (rather than "service" motivated) businesses use 'gig' workers to deliver. (Gig workers have few rights and are taken advantage of.) And, the 'last mile' remains unprofitable unless everyone in the rural area is expecting a parcel (doesn't even happen at Christmas) - so customers are waiting days/weeks for their parcel delivery while the delivery service has a large enough load to make it worthwhile.
Likewise - this is a one-way issue. Should a package need to be returned these delivery companies do not have a physical location in rural Canada - but Canada Post does. So, private enterprise serves the profitable part of the business and leaves the less profitable part to Canada Post service. Change is always challenging but one size does not fit all. Services are viable when they have a complete customer base. Currently, this change model has private enterprise eating the cream on top of the dessert while leaving the crust to government/crown services. The classic - wanting your cake and eating it too.
It is rather disappointing that 'blame Trudeau' is still the Conservative narrative. That train left the station some time ago.
But there is much to blame him for...IMHO possibly the worst leader of any democratic country ever.
Yes he was, Is, whatever. That individual is gone. Get over the blame game, move on move forward. In case you don't realize it, you are doing what every new government does once elected. Blame the last government that was in power. Its the easy way out.
Some very good points here. I try not to be overly partisan in these pieces, but this is one where blame needs to be landed at a few feet as there was no need to make that promise or stunt. The crown corp had a plan that should have been respected and that is the real point of this piece. Your point on gif workers and the cream being syphoned off is very good. I tried to propose some policies for the rise of gig work.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservatives-gig-workers-ndp-housing-market-1.6154572
The least Canada Post can do is charge more for mail and parcels to rural areas. Rural homes generally cost less and have lower taxes than many urban homes. The rural mail recipient wants to have their cake —-same price and delivery for mail and parcels—- and eat it too, lower costs home ownership. I can rationalize supporting CP mail to rural areas if it is a fee structure by zones. Even rural homes have access to cell and internet services so their need for home delivery is reduced. The rural home owner surely goes “into town” for groceries, gas and appointments so having a community mailbox for pickup is reasonable.
There were talks of tiered pricing relating to distance and complexity of delivery. Hard to administer and at the end of the day the shift away from mail was the real issue.
Great info Erin. I found the small video of those fools with the jackhammer cringy in the extreme.
Hard to believe someone in the Mayor’s office didn’t say ‘This is a bad idea!’…
Thanks Erin. A very thoughtful column. I'm of a similar vintage to you, so I love the payphone example. And no time for the buffoonary of Codere.
But I have to ask, why didn't the Harper government with the majority push further on this? If the answer to that is political pressures, then that's a huge opportunity lost. That's not to minimize the Liberal inaction of the past 10 years on thr file. I just have to say, it doesn't fill me with confidence of governments of any political stripe to deal with this situation or ones like supply management or housing, where solutions may involve some pain for some citizens.
Good point. The 5 point plan came out in the majority. To be fair, I think Harper should have floated privatization amid the minority governments if only to raise the seriousness of risks Canada Post was facing. Everything short of a vote (which would have caused an election) would have been a good idea.
After the jackhammer stunt, Coderre called a vote to support his buffoonery in City Council. All but one City Councillor voted with him.
Proud to say that was me.
Steve Shanahan,
Montreal
Nice local touch there…
There are still a few social media platforms where you can have amazing engagement like this. Let’s hope that doesn’t change.
Bravo Steve! I admire that. You were also the only one to see the big picture.
No one here has talked about the continuing awfulness of Canada Post's service outside the cities. I have had to rely on Canada Post's services for 25 years, both as an individual and for my business. The frontline staff have been mostly fine but the policies they have had to implement regularly hampered effectiveness.
As to parcel delivery, Canada Post is one of three entities that service our area. Both the others are much better than Canada Post.
Time is up for Canada Post. Ditch it now. Sell the real estate to pay off some of the debt. Buh-bye!
As a 38 year veteran of the postal wars... now retired and with a great pension thank you very much... I disagree that it is too late as your article suggests. Your focus on the 2 main combatants, the union and the government, is quite correct because it is these two groups who have taken us to where we are today and under this current structure positive change will not happen. While CPC may be a crown corporation and expected to be independent and self sustainable it is anything but. Legislation imposes severe restrictions and expectations on the company but not so on its competitors who are not obligated to deliver a letter to Halifax from Vancouver at the current rate. CUPW meanwhile must try to continually advance the financial and lifestyle security of those it represents. No different really than many publicly traded companies...like banks..who pay out nice dividends to shareholders who have an expectation that each year the bank will do better and the dividend higher. So what is the solution that will satisfy everyone? There is none and never will be but there is a path that the majority can live with that includes service and profitability but to do so both the union and the company must work together as equal partners with a focus on all Canadians..their customers.
Erin, Thank you for the what I would describe as an accurate history. As a 35 year veteran of the Canadian Postal Service, I also reflect on the challenges of today that were predicted many years in advance. I am grateful and proud of my own personal journey in the corporation, starting in a Union position of maintenance, going on to end. My career as a manager of operations. The real issue as I see it and encapsulated by your essay, I lies in the creation of Crown Corporations, a step towards privatization but never really being able to execute prudent business decisions. The leadership at CPC under Ms. Green and Mr. Chopra definitely understood the importance of adaptation. The 5 point action plan would have in my opinion lead us to a more sustainable balanced service. I was part of that plan , and the political interference is actually why we are we are at now. I’m thankful for my retirement and and the pension I receive, I am saddened at the political uncertainty!
Erin, Thank you for the what I would describe as an accurate history. As a 35 year veteran of the Canadian Postal Service, I also reflect on the challenges of today that were predicted many years in advance. I am grateful and proud of my own personal journey in the corporation, starting in a Union position of maintenance, going on to end. My career as a manager of operations. The real issue as I see it and encapsulated by your essay, I lies in the creation of Crown Corporations, a step towards privatization but never really being able to execute prudent business decisions. The leadership at CPC under Ms. Green and Mr. Chopra definitely understood the importance of adaptation. The 5 point action plan would have in my opinion lead us to a more sustainable balanced service. I was part of that plan , and the political interference is actually why we are we are at now. I’m thankful for my retirement and and the pension I receive, I am saddened at the political uncertainty!