"Don't cut the lifeline to Rural Canada", says National President of Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association

OTTAWA, Sept. 22, 2016 /CNW/ - Brenda McAuley, President of the Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association appeared before the Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates yesterday evening to make the case for the need for postal services in rural Canada.

She referred to studies showing that, when Canada Post tried to provide postal services by contracting out to a franchise in rural Canada, over half of them disappeared. "All that was left for those residents was a collection of boxes at the side of the road.  That's hardly vibrant Canadian infrastructure", she told the Committee.

Ms. McAuley told the Committee that 95% of the workers in question are women and allowing Canada Post to be weakened in rural Canada would leave these persons without meaningful jobs.

She added that Canada Post has closed over 350 rural post offices in Canada, despite the fact there is a Moratorium in place.

McAuley spoke about the possibilities to preserve and grow the postal network to serve rural, remote and indigenous communities, including the possibility to use post offices to provide banking and other needed services.

She reminded the Committee that the President of Canada Post had acknowledged that "Canada Post is a lifeline for rural Canadians" she went on to say "No one familiar with the importance of these operations and who cares about rural Canada would disagree. We are imploring the Committee not to cut our lifeline".

The Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association is the second largest bargaining unit at Canada Post, representing people working in post offices in towns and villages throughout rural Canada since 1902.

SOURCE Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association

Brenda McAuley, 613-745-2095, [email protected]