(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

New vision

Union says Canada Post could deliver banking and internet services to rural areas

Apr 27, 2021 | 12:00 PM

An ambitious plan to reimagine Canada Post has the support of Prince Albert city council.

Brahm Enslin, a campaign coordinator with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, presented the idea called Delivering Community Power to a city council executive committee meeting on April 19.

“Well into the 21^st century, Canada Post could be doing much more than just handling letters and parcels,” Enslin told the council.

The union’s vision sees the post office using its large logistics network to deliver services like broadband internet and postal banking to communities that currently lack access.

“Currently, there are over 1,200 communities that have post offices but no banks or credit unions and only 54 out of 615 Indigenous communities are served by local bank branches,” Enslin said. “The post office could provide postal banking in all corners of the country while combatting the predatory lending practice of the larger financial institutions that have ignored many rural communities.”

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Enslin noted that the idea of a postal bank is “not a new concept.” Canada had one until 1968, and countries like the United Kingdom, France and New Zealand all have successful postal banking services, he continued.

Mail carriers could also provide check-in services for seniors and people with disabilities.

The union also wants to see Canada Post’s fleet transition to 100 per cent renewable energy and buildings retrofitted for improved energy efficiency. Electric vehicle charging stations at depots and post offices could be used by the general public too.

“The plan is win-win-win,” said Enslin. “It creates and sustains jobs, it provides new services for people in all parts of the country…and the post office will be profitable while being environmentally sustainable.”

Enslin’s proposal got a warm reception from city council who voted to endorse the plan and send a letter of support to the federal minister responsible for Canada Post.

“It’s very refreshing to hear ideas about increasing services that could impact our city of Prince Albert,” Coun. Terra Lennox-Zepp said.

Coun. Tony Head referenced his personal experience.

“As a young man living in northern communities, there were no banks, there was no Wifi and there are still struggles to this day,” Head said, adding his family relied heavily on the post office at that time “as the hub of the community.”

Coun. Don Cody also supported sending the letter of support.

“I think we need to bring it to the federal government and tell them ‘look, there are these opportunities out there.’ And when you look at the small rural part of the province, it’s worthwhile I think giving them the opportunity for better internet, better services and this is one of the ways.”

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alison.sandstrom@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @alisandstrom