Will scrapping home-to-home mail delivery actually save Canada Post?

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After years of red ink, Canada Post insists it has a plan to finally deliver a major turnaround.

Last week, the federal government paved the way for Canada Post to adopt a list of controversial cost-cutting measures, including ending home-to-home delivery and shuttering some rural post offices.

Unionized postal workers responded to the news with another country-wide strike — the second labour disruption in less than a year. A week later, they remain off the job.

In an open letter released yesterday, Doug Ettinger, the president and CEO of Canada Post, said “our goal is to provide an affordable, reliable and sustainable service to every Canadian — one that lifts our national pride by strengthening our connections to each other.”

“While our labour situation is extremely challenging, we also remain committed to reaching new agreements at the bargaining table,” the letter continued. “It’s vital these agreements reflect our financial reality and support the changes we need to make — while helping us stand on our own, without taxpayer funding.”

Joining us on tonight’s episode of Closer Look is Jim Gallant, a negotiator with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW).

He has plenty to say about the CEO’s letter, the federal government’s announcement — and why he believes the corporation’s latest decisions will only “further drive Canada Post customers into the arms of its competitors.”

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.

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