Inevitable change

Re: Time to overhaul Canada Post — Sept. 17

A number of articles and the Sept. 17 editorial begin by calling Justin Trudeau foolish for halting the federal task force’s wise, if unpopular, plan to end all door-todoor delivery, which would affect 27 per cent of the customers, but

would save $400 million a year. Failure to do so will sink us in a sea of red ink. Other recommendations are: deliver mail every other day; sell 800 postal outlets to the private sector; and close some processing plants. Your editorial says that the choice is stark for the prime minister and all Canadians — either empty our wallets on an anachronism or allow Canada Post to evolve.

What is not said is that Canada Post is a user pay service costing taxpayers nothing. It pays the Canadian government $195 million a year; employs 80,000-plus people who also pay taxes; pays bonuses to all the managers, as well as $500,000 to CEO Depak Chopra. Obviously, Canada Post is profitable and beneficial.

Canada Post is evolving. All businesses are being impacted by growing scientific understanding and technical application of these discoveries, so why the push for privatization? I think it is so that the wealthiest 10 per cent can make more money and is the result of having a myopic, single bottom line mindset.

Trudeau, far from being foolish, is not locked in to this way of thinking, leaving him free to consider what is really money-saving, and to whom and what is truly better for Canadians.

Change is inevitable, but the application of change should be decided by those with high moral and ethical standards and vision — people who consider people, and the environment, as well as profit. Neal Hammond Guelph