SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Local government and community representatives called this week for Canada Post to expand its services in the North, which they said are a critical resource for many remote communities.

Yellowknife local Canadian Union of Postal Workers president Lynda Lefrancois said Canada Post is a lifeline for the North and that services need to expand in order for the business to be successful. - Kirsten Fenn/NNSL photo

"The North is the one place that needs Canada Post more than anywhere else," Yellowknife local Canadian Union of Postal Workers president Lynda Lefrancois said following a meeting with the House of Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates on Wednesday morning. "It's the lifeline."

Frame Lake MLA Kevin O'Reilly, Mayor Mark Heyck and Lefrancois were among the speakers who met with the committee at Nova Hotel to discuss everything from postal banking to improving delivery times and revenue.

The standing committee has been on a cross-country tour through communities big and small to find out what Canadians think of Canada Post services and how the organization could further develop business.

It is expected to table a report on the findings in December.

Members asked several questions about whether Canada Post should develop services or maintain a break-even operation, and what kind of extended services the organization could provide if it were to do so.

Lefrancois said Canada Post needs to maintain its offices in Northern communities which depend on the service for everyday things such as bringing in goods and food to residents.

It also needs to expand, she said, as the North cannot sustain mail services on its own.

"The urban centres are the ones that make the money and big profit," she said, adding that Canada Post should generate revenue there to help support delivery in the North.

O'Reilly said while most communities in the territory have a post office, there are a few that do not but could be used as a hub for several different services such as offering more collectible stamps to generate and re-invest revenue.

He also raised the idea of postal banking. When committee members asked if cellphone or online banking was an option, he said Internet is not accessible in all places across the territory.

"They (Canada Post) could offer postal banking as a way to bring in revenue and financial services particularly for rural and remote areas, where we don't have high-speed Internet," he said.

The committee raised the idea of whether Canada Post could support broadband Internet in remote communities but agreed the idea would have to be fleshed out.

Heyck said Yellowknife is fairly satisfied with its postal services, although delivery is increasing and there have been staffing issues in the past around Christmas holidays.

He reminded the committee there are also dozens of First Nations communities across the territory and that there is a duty to consult them before any change in services are made.

Any changes would impact them most, he said.

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