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441-00945 (Government services and administration)

Paper petition

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the Government of Canada

WHEREAS:

  • the temporary closure of the Winnipegosis Canada Post Office has resulted in hundreds of residents being redirected to Dauphin, a community 40 minutes away, to obtain their mail;

  • the transportation burden to seniors and persons with disabilities is amplified because of the temporary post office closure;

  • Canada Post was aware of the anticipated staffing shortages and failed to implement a solution that would ensure mail service would remain in the community;

  • this is another example of rural Canadians being neglected by government policy that fails to consider their unique way of life; and

  • mail service is an essential service.

We, the undersigned, residents of Winnipegosis, call upon the Minister of Public Services and Procurement to:

  • provide a detailed plan on when the Winnipegosis post office will fully reopen;

  • provide an explanation of why this essential service was closed despite the anticipated staffing shortage; and

  • work with Canada Post and the Minister of Rural Economic Development to ensure these temporary post office closures in rural areas are not normalized.

Response by the Minister of Public Services and Procurement

Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Anthony Housefather

The Winnipegosis post office encountered staffing shortages due to unexpected circumstances, which resulted in a temporary closure last summer. Subsequently, staff were brought in from other offices (some as far as 275 km away) to work at the post office while a hiring process was initiated. In early October, while the hiring process was underway, Canada Post was unable to reallocate staff from other locations, resulting in the closure of the post office for approximately 4 days. Since that time, three term staff have been hired and trained. The office has been open since October 11, 2022.

Staffing continues to be a challenge for Canada Post in many of its rural and northern post offices. In the event of any future unexpected temporary service disruptions, local operations will make every available effort to keep postal outlets open and operational.  Once these available efforts have been exhausted, impacted customers will be directed to an alternative post office to pick up mail if capacity, acceptable hours of operation and highway network service requirements are met.

Canada Post remains committed to serving the people of Winnipegosis.

Presented to the House of Commons
Dan Mazier (Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa)
December 8, 2022 (Petition No. 441-00945)
Government response tabled
January 18, 2023
Photo - Dan Mazier
Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa
Conservative Caucus
Manitoba

Only validated signatures are counted towards the total number of signatures.