(The following article is from the September 1-15, 2008, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $25/year, or $12 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $25 US per year; other overseas readers - $25 US or $35 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 133 Herkimer St., Unit 502, Hamilton, ON, L8P 2H3.)

By Sam Hammond

The Harper government has set up an advisory panel, the "Canada Post Corporation Strategic Review" (CPCSR) to review our post office for the first time in twelve years.

     According to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, the panel has been instructed to investigate whether Canada Post should continue to have an exclusive privilege to handle addressed letters... or should the letter market be open to competition?

     Market and competition are the key words here, translated into more honest street vernacular as privatization and deregulation. Under the Canada Post Corporation Act, the Post Office has a mandate to provide customary postal service, while having regard for "the need to conduct its operations on a self-sustaining financial basis." Although Canada Post makes profits and pays the federal government dividends ($547 million in the last ten years) it is not required to do so. It must only break even.

     The CPCRS panel will not be touring the country holding town hall meetings for public input, as they should, and their period for accepting submissions is very short, ending September 2, 2008. CUPW has a vigorous campaign underway to encourage submissions from individuals, public organizations and small business, to protect the exclusive mandate of Canada Post and oppose deregulation and privatization.

     Studies of a deregulated system in the UK have found no appreciable benefit to the public or small business. In Sweden, postal rates have soared 90% in ten years since privatization, while in the same period Canadian rates have gone up just 21%. It's the same old same old scenario. Privatization means profits and profits raise costs and deteriorate service.

     Please join the campaign and send submissions from individuals, organizations, businesses or unions. Help CUPW represent what is best for all of us. Submissions can be mailed to: Canada Post Corporation Strategic Review, 330 Sparks Street (HCCR), Ottawa, ON, K1A 0N5, fax 613-990-9033. Or you can send submissions to the Review's web address: info@cpcsr-esscp.gc.ca.

     Visit the CUPW web page, http://www.cupw.ca, for loads more info and their vision of a better Canadian Postal Service.