by Denis Lemelin

July 7, 2008

Over the next few months, our Conservative federal government is
conducting a review that will determine the future of universal, public
postal service in our country. This review is pretty much a secret review,
and it could be bad news for good people.

The government's review will look at three very basic and important
questions: What postal services should people receive? Who should provide
them? And should Canada Post continue to have an exclusive privilege to
handle addressed letters, or should the letter market be open to
competition?

Anyone who thinks that a little competition never hurt anyone might
want to take a closer look at how our postal system actually works. Canada
Post has an exclusive privilege to handle letters so that it is able to
generate enough money to provide affordable postal service to everyone, no
matter where they live.

While the exclusive privilege isn't often discussed, most people
seem to like what it does. In fact, 91 per cent of respondents to an Angus
Reid poll said universal postal service at a uniform rate is one of the
really great things about Canada Post.

Unfortunately, our popular and egalitarian one-price-goes-anywhere
service could disappear. If the government decides to eliminate our post
office's exclusive privilege as a result of its review, Canada Post would
almost certainly face a downward spiral. Private sector competitors would
focus on profitable areas and services, leaving unprofitable parts to our
public post office. With fewer profits, Canada Post would find it
increasingly difficult - and eventually impossible - to provide uniform and
affordable service, especially in rural and remote parts of the county.

Even though the Conservative government's review could change the
very nature of our postal system, the Tories are not planning on holding
public hearings or doing much to publicize their examination of Canada
Post. They have issued a media release asking for submissions by September
2, 2008. Their advisory panel is contacting 'major stakeholders.'

The fact that the government is not holding public hearings and is
proceeding at a breakneck pace with its review suggests that it is not
really interested in hearing from the real owners and stakeholders of our
post office ? the public.

It is also disturbing that the chair of the review has written a
book, entitled The Politics of Postal Transformation, that recommends that
the federal government eliminate the exclusive privilege. Aside from the
obvious, it is disturbing because the few countries that have fully removed
their post office's exclusive privilege or monopoly on letters have
suffered. They now have fewer jobs, less service and higher postal rates
for people and small businesses.

As is, our basic postage rate currently ranks as one of the lowest
in the industrial world. Letter mail is secure, cheap, on time 96.1 per
cent of the time and delivered to everyone at a single price. In a recent
national poll, Canada Post surpassed the CBC and the Supreme Court as the
most trusted federal institution in Canada.

This is not to say that our post office is perfect. But it is worth
noting that it will be difficult for Canada Post to improve service if the
government eliminates the mechanism that funds public postal service - the
exclusive privilege.

If you like your secure, trusted, affordable and universal postal
service and think the federal government is trying to fix something that
isn't broken, contact the Canada Post Strategic Review at 330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0N5, and speak your mind by September 2, 2008.

You might want to express concerns about post office closures. Last
time the Conservatives were in office, they closed about 1,500 rural post
offices before being stopped by public outrage and an election defeat.
Don't forget to mention that a speedy review without public hearings is
hardly a democratic way to decide the fate of our publicly owned post
office.

Denis Lemelin is the president of the Canadian Union of Postal
Workers.

Disclaimer: I received this in my inbox and thought it was an interesting

read. The facts have not been verified by me. LR

---

         ~Paula Passed This Along ~

A really great story - animals are such teachers

 

Just beautiful!

PORK CHOPS

 

In a zoo in California , a mother tiger gave birth to a rare set of triplet tiger cubs. Unfortunately,due to complications in the pregnancy, the cubs were born prematurely and due to their tiny size, they died shortly after birth.
The mother tiger after recovering from the delivery, suddenly started to decline in health, although physically she was fine. The veterinarians felt that the loss of her litter had caused the tigress to fall into a depression. The doctors decided that if the tigress could surrogate another mother's cubs, perhaps she would improve.
After checking with many other zoos across the country, the depressing news was that there were no tiger cubs of the right age to introduce to the mourning mother. The veterinarians decided to try something that had never been tried in a zoo environment. Sometimes a mother of one species will take on the care of a different species. The only 'orphans' that could be found quickly, were a litter of weanling pigs. The zoo keepers and vets wrapped the piglets in tiger skin and placed the babies around the mother tiger. Would they become cubs or pork chops??
Take a look...

 

 

Now, please tell me one more time .......?
Why can't the rest of the world get along???

---

(5) lessons to make you think about the way we treat people.

1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.
During my second month of college, our professor
Gave us a pop quiz I was a conscientious student
And had breezed through the questions until I read
The last one:
'What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?'
Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the
Cleaning woman several times. She was tall,
Dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name?
I handed in my paper, leaving the last question
Blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if
The last question would count toward our quiz grade.
'Absolutely,' said the professor. 'In your careers,
You will meet many people. All are significant. They
Deserve your attention and care, even if all you do
Is smile and say 'hello.'
I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her
Name was Dorothy.

2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain

3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those who serve.
In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less,
A 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and
Sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.
'How much is an ice cream sundae?' he asked.
'Fifty cents,' replied the waitress.
The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and
Studied the coins in it.
'Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?' he inquired.
By now more people were waiting for a table and the
Waitress was growing impatient.
'Thirty-five cents,' she brusquely replied.
The little boy again counted his coins.
'I'll have the plain ice cream,' he said.
The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on
The table and walked away. The boy finished the ice
Cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress
Came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the
Table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish,
Were two nickels and five pennies..
You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had
To have enough left to leave her a tip.

5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts...
Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a
hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who
was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only
chance of recovery appeared to be a blood
transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had
miraculously survived the same disease and had
developed the antibodies needed to combat the
illness.. The doctor explained the situation to her
little brother, and asked the little boy if he would
be willing to give his blood to his sister.
I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a
deep breath and saying, 'Yes I'll do it if it will
save her' As the transfusion progressed, he lay in
bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did,
seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his
face grew pale and his smile faded.
He looked up at the doctor and asked with a
trembling voice, 'Will I start to die right away'.
Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the
doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his
sister all of his blood in order to save her but he had chosen to save her anyway.

Now what are you going to do?

'Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like you do when nobody's watching.'
NOW more than ever - Peace...

Pass It On

By Cheryl Gudz

Want to convert your eco-laggard friends to a more sustainable lifestyle? How about hosting a green party they’ll never forget?

Start the party off with a clothing or “used stuff” swap and let people know in advance to bring their gently used items. Watch everyone mix and mingle with very minimal effort on your part.

Get cheeky on the invite about appropriate party attire: homemade, second hand, hemp or organic cotton only! Next, make sure all party offerings are sourced locally, contain no harmful chemicals, and are 100% post-consumer content. Veggie platter? Get an assortment from your farmer’s market. Hand soap in the bathroom? Choose an all-natural product. Toilet paper? Only 100% recycled tissue paper.

Now don’t forget about lighting and décor. Set the mood with beeswax candles, and LED or CFL bulbs where necessary. Choosing not to buy party streamers and balloons is simple when you can create your own party décor by reusing materials you already have in your own home.

Managing waste is important to the success of a green party; garbage, recycling, and compost bins must be marked clearly for guests. When it comes to serving all your fantastic foods, use your reusable cups and dishes first. As a backup plan, buy disposable cups and dishes made from 100% recycled cardboard, or cutlery and other products made of corn which are compostable.

Now, relax and toast to a green season with a glass from your local winery or brewery. Cheers!

Helpful tip: To keep people from opening and closing the fridge all night, cool drinks in buckets filled with ice.

Tags: clothing swap, green, local, party, summer