Neither snow nor rain nor heat will interrupt the mail service but, in about one month’s time, it is possible that the lunch hour will.
On July 24 Creemore’s Canada Post Office was notified of a proposal to close its office doors during the hours of 11:30 am and 12:30 pm and discontinue Saturday service entirely. A total of 10 hours will be cut.
The change has been made to address the cost of labour as required by the Canada Post Corporation (CPC) Five Point Plan for the Future. According to the Corporation it has much higher costs than its competitors and they need to bring this in line.
“These initiatives will help the Corporation to better serve the emerging needs of Canadians, and fulfill its mandate to remain financially self-sufficient and avoid becoming a burden on taxpayers,” the Plan states. Along with reducing wage and pension payments by attrition, movement is also afoot for the CPC to open franchise postal outlets in stores across Canada to reduce their brick-and-mortar costs.
Sue Scaysbrook The Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association Secretary Treasurer said in the Association’s summer newsletter that a moratorium on the closure of post offices instated after a Mulroney-era lash back is still in place. This will keep post offices open but does not necessarily mean local operations will remain the same.
Pauline MacIntosh, the Post Master in Creemore understands that changes need to be made but wants to continue to provide exceptional service in this community. A reduction in hours may affect the ability of the office to maintain their standard of service. The Creemore post office is currently open 8 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday and 9 am to noon on Saturdays. MacIntosh has requested that when changes are made, hours be extended to 6 pm on Fridays.
Alexandre Boulerice, MP and official opposition critic responsible for Canada Post, is encouraging people to say no to cuts in service. He says post offices are an economic engine in rural Canada and if people want to save them they need to speak up. He is currently telling people to send to a message to their local MP urging the federal government to rethink their approach on the postal plan and for the CPC to invest in revenue generating services that will help communities grow and prosper.
Contact your MP about local postal service:
Simcoe-Grey – kellieleitchmp.com
Dufferin-Caledon – davidtilson.ca