Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Dec 07/01) - The Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce is urging Canada Post to get first-class mail to the community without fail, but an official with the Crown corporation says the problems have been few.

The chamber and Fort Simpson Village Council wrote letters to Canada Post demanding improved service. Businessman Ted Grant accused First Air, which holds the contract to fly mail to Fort Simpson, of periodically "bumping" (or leaving behind) first-class mail in Yellowknife.

"Lots of times I go to the post office and the postmaster or postmistress would say, 'They didn't bring any first class mail today.' Once it went for over a week," said Grant. "Canada Post has got to turn the mail over to someone who will haul it. It's ridiculous. There was hardly any (mail) today."

Grant said he wrote letters of complaint to Canada Post and to Western Arctic Member of Parliament Ethel Blondin-Andrew months ago, but has not received commitments to improve the situation.

Dave Craig, Canada Post's area manager based in Yellowknife, acknowledged that First Air did have temporary problems with an aircraft in November, but that situation has been resolved, he said. Craig said First Air has been known to deliver mail on Tuesdays and Thursdays even though their contract only obligates them to deliver first-class mail every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It's possible that some Fort Simpson residents have come to expect daily delivery, even though First Air isn't contracted to do so, Craig suggested.

He said First Air sends him reports when they bump the mail on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday. He could only recall one other instance over the past few years when the mail was not delivered on those days. He said he is satisfied with the level of service.