CNW
Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association’s new study Why Post Offices Need to Offer Banking Services shows that there is a way to stop Canada Post cuts.
The new study is based on a survey done last summer in over 3,300 rural post offices across Canada.
Over 78 per cent (2,620) of all those post offices responded. Of those communities, four per cent (nearly 1,200) have a post office, but no bank or credit union.
Residents of those communities, in order to get to a bank or credit union, are forced to travel long distances, which costs time and money and stifles economic development, particularly in rural Canada.
Every post office should offer banking services. Most other countries similar to Canada, such as the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Italy and New Zealand, have successful banking services in their post offices.
Canada Post carried out its own study last fall (which it has refused to reveal to the public in its entirety), which also shows that offering financial services would be a “win-win strategy”.
Not only are the changes Canada Post is bringing in the wrong way to go, but they were brought in without any real consultation with the public, including citizens, business, unions and communities.
The CPAA study talked to post offices in more than 3300 communities in our survey. Canada Post talked to only 46 communities, mainly in Conservative ridings before announcing its cuts.
The survey was carried out for the Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association (CPAA) by Anderson Consulting.
CPAA, founded in 1902, is a national association representing 8828 members; 5,553 full and part-time and 3,325 terms.
10,000 members consisting of 5,651 full and part-time employees and 4,558 term employees of Canada Post, particularly in rural areas.