Conservatives destroy postal services, drastically raise prices

Instead of looking for ways to modernize operations, Canada Post and the Conservatives are taking an axe to long-treasured postal services – killing good jobs, eliminating home delivery, cutting rural post office hours and drastically increasing postage rates.

“Harper’s Conservatives can find millions to keep his well-connected friends in the Senate but he can't find a way to keep mail coming to your door. That tells you what Conservative priorities are," said NDP Transport, Municipalities and Public Transit critic Olivia Chow (Trinity - Spadina). “These short-sighted service cuts will have the biggest impact on seniors and persons with disabilities.”

6,000 to 8,000 workers will lose their jobs and five million households will lose home delivery over the next five years. Worse yet, Canada Post’s consultations were only done by Internet, effectively eliminating any opportunity for input from the people who will be most affected.

“You don’t save a business by cutting services, driving away customers and raising costs,” said Chow. “The Conservatives waited until the House had risen to deliver this lump of coal to Canadians. Canadians deserve better.”