Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 28/05) - There's no for sale sign in the window, but federal government plans to unload "surplus" property may see the end of Yellowknife's downtown post office.

The government considers the building to be surplus property because it doesn't meet federal standards on office requirements such as wheelchair accessibility.

Also, because Canada Post is a Crown corporation and not a federal department, the government doesn't consider it a part of its organization.

Anne Pratt, a spokesperson for Public Works Canada, said letters were sent out to a number of government departments, including City Hall and the territorial government, to let them know that the 50-year-old building on Franklin Avenue is up for sale.

Pratt said governments and Crown corporations, including Canada Post, were given first dibs at buying it. She wouldn't say how much the building was worth.

"The building is for sale but it's not on the public market right now," Pratt said.

Canada Post is the only tenant in the two-storey building. Pratt said their lease expires in March, and has not been renewed.

She said the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs is the only department that has so far expressed an interest in buying the building.

Pratt said the department has until the end of May to let Public Works know whether they intend to purchase. If they don't, the building will go to sale on the public market.

DIAND did not return phone calls.

When asked if her department's plan to sell the building will mean Canada Post will have to leave, Pratt said she couldn't say.

"I really can't speak to that," said Pratt.

"At this point, (DIAND) is considering it. That's all we can say about where it is with them."

She couldn't say whether Public Works has been in contact with Canada Post.

Ron Kingsley, Canada Post's area manager for the NWT, said he knew the building had been declared surplus, but was unaware that Public Works is talking to other government departments about purchasing the building. "That's scary," said Kingsley. "No, I don't want that."

Regardless, Kingsley said Canada Post has no plans to vacate the building. The mail service has continually occupied the building since it opened on April 30, 1956.

It is one of the oldest buildings in downtown Yellowknife.

Kingsley said Canada Post recently took on a major renovation of the office on the assumption that it is there to stay.

Kingsley called the post office a "very profitable retail operation."

"We have said publicly as well as privately that we want to stay where we are," he said. "We don't have any desire to move. Whoever the landlord is, 'let's work a deal out.'"

Public Works officials are meeting with city council today to talk about its plans.

Coun. Kevin O'Reilly said Charlottetown, P.E.I., and Whitehorse, Yukon, have lost their downtown post offices and he doesn't want to see that happen here.

"It's the heartbeat of the downtown, it's the meeting place," said O'Reilly.

"I certainly don't want to lose that very important and historic facility."

Yvonne Quick, who first came to Yellowknife in 1962, said it would be "ridiculous" if the post office moved.

"It's been a good building and it's certainly central," said Quick.

"Why would the federal government move a post office where there's still people picking up their mail every day, to the suburbs. That's crazy."