Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Pelly Bay (Sep 24/01) - Postal service in the Kitikmeot region is suffering from strict new regulations imposed by Transport Canada.

In the wake of terrorist attacks in the United States, any air mail -- parcels or letters -- weighing more than 250 grams now must languish in a warehouse for six hours, plus the length of the flight.

That means a parcel on a two-hour flight must first sit on the ground for eight hours prior to being allowed on a plane.

Kuugaarruk senior administrative officer Quinn Taggart says that's "going to take some getting used to."

The hamlet holds the contract with Canada Post to provide postal services. Holding parcels for any length of time creates bottlenecks. With a "hole in the wall" measuring six-by-four metres, there's little room to store anything, let alone hold parcels.

What's more, Kuugaarruk only has flights every other day.

If parcels come in late Thursday or on Friday, they won't go out until Monday.

People sending out mail will lose, "a minimum of two days, up to five days," says Taggart.

That means Canada Post and consumers can say goodbye to premium services like Priority Mail and Express Post.

John Caines, media relations manager for Canada Post, says that in fly-in communities, the Crown corporation is, "unable to guarantee delivery," within the 24 hours or three business days these services promise elsewhere in the country.