Canada Post asks government to force vote on their latest offer
Canada Post has asked the government to force the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) to have its members vote on their latest offer, according to a release sent out on Friday.
The Crown corporation says it has asked Patty Hadju, federal minister of jobs and families, to use her authority under the Canadian Labour Code to call a vote, administered by the Canada Industrial Relations Board, on what management is calling their final offer, which was released two days ago.
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Ottawa Citizen
3 hours ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Today's letters: Canada Post workers must be realistic about the future
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Thursday, June 5: The post office is not in good shape and the union has to realize that, says one reader. You can write to us too, at letters@ CUPW members converged outside the Prime Minister's Office on May 31, 2025 as their labour dispute with Canada Post continues. Photo by Spencer Colby / Postmedia THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors I am really trying to be sympathetic to CUPW. It's very unsettling I am sure to see the corporation that you work for fall apart. The bread and butter of the business, letter mail, almost obsolete; parcel carriers eating your lunch because they are so much better at it than you are; a business model that is no longer relevant; $1.3 billion in yearly operating losses and who knows what else? I wonder if the union is in denial. The offer of signing bonuses, removal of mandatory overtime, agreement to consult about services, wage increases etc. seem reasonable to me given the post office's financial situation. I would suggest that you wake up and smell the coffee. The writing is on the wall. Marie-Lyne Fréchette, Orléans I live very close to city hall and for years enjoyed freely walking through the welcoming main hall. In our freezing cold winters, it afforded me a welcome warm-up on my way home from my Elgin Street bus stop. I loved the public access to the grand piano and small galleries as well. My granddaughter enjoyed the display of the very grand-looking mayors' necklaces and once a lovely visit upstairs to visit the mayor's office — empty but suitably impressive to her, a friendly tour provided by the smiling security guard. Gradually doors previously open, night and day, were locked. Then huge bollards were constructed in front of doors now often locked as well. Now, I hear there will be airport level security checks. I voted here this year; will I now have to go through security to vote in future? The message to me, the public, is clear. We don't trust you to enter here. But we voted you councillors and mayor entry; don't lock us out. Added security at city hall is a very bad idea. The recent article by Mohammed Adam says it all. It appears there is no actual reason for this heightened alert other than fear and mistrust. The citizens of Ottawa are being suspected, en masse, of plotting a coup or some other nefarious action yet to be identified. This is not an acceptable way to run a democratic institution, especially since it appears it was instigated very quickly, without any sort of community input. This advertisement has not loaded yet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. If there have been instances to elicit such a response, the citizens of Ottawa should be informed. Our concerns are flicked away with a wave of the hand and a packaged response that says 'we know better than you,' displaying a complete lack of respect and accountability. I call for this measure to be abandoned. Farewell, adieu to a foundational cornerstone that was instrumental in the shaping of Canada, strong, free and distinct among nations.
Globe and Mail
11 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
From increased police power to stricter immigration, here's what's in the new border bill
The federal government tabled a bill on June 3 that would significantly limit who can pursue refugee claims in Canada while giving officials the power to cancel immigration applications en masse. The bill is 127 pages long and includes a wide scope of legislation that gives Canada Post the authority to open people's mail, expands the Coast Guard's powers to conduct helicopter searches and cracks down on money laundering. Here's what we know so far about the Strong Borders Act. People who claim asylum after living more than a year in Canada would not have their case considered by the Immigration and Refugee Board, and instead face deportation. But they would be offered a risk assessment first, so claimants wouldn't be removed to places deemed unsafe, including war zones such as Gaza or Ukraine. Sharing information – such as identity and status and immigration documentation – across provinces and territories, federal departments and different Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) programs would be authorized and made easier. There would be a clamp-down on those exploiting a provision in the Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States. Under the agreement, people must claim asylum in the first country they arrive in, meaning that most are sent back to the U.S. if they arrive at the Canadian border. But that rule does not apply to anyone who has been in Canada for 14 days. Opinion: The tightening of Canada's asylum laws was an inevitability The bill would change the rules to require people to claim asylum within 14 days. After that, claimants would not receive a hearing and instead be subject to deportation. Such claimants would also be entitled to a risk assessment by IRCC before being deported. The government would be allowed to immediately pause or cancel the processing of immigration applications, including en masse, for example if evidence of widespread fraud emerged. It also proposes streamlining the immigration process, simplifying the online application process and speeding up processing times. The bill would boost the role of the Coast Guard, by giving it the ability to conduct security patrols using helicopters and boats, and to share its findings with security, defence and intelligence agencies. It would give police more power to search mail, while expanding the authority of Canada Post to open people's letters. Police and intelligence services would receive enhanced power to access electronic information, in some cases without a warrant granted by a court. The bill would compel electronic service providers to hand over information or communications that supports law enforcement and CSIS in criminal and intelligence investigations. Border bill would give authorities sweeping security powers and restrict asylum claims The bill also enhances the ability of law enforcement to share information about sex offenders both in Canada and abroad, including the U.S. To hamper the smuggling of drugs and other illicit goods, such as stolen cars, the bill would compel warehouse operators and transport companies to give Canadian border agents access to inspect goods destined for export. Currently, border agents can only check imports to Canada. The bill proposes expanding the minister of health's powers to stop the flow of fentanyl and illicit drugs, alongside the expanded powers of law enforcement. The health minister would be allowed to clamp down on the illicit drug trade including precursor chemicals used to produce fentanyl. The bill includes a number of measures aimed at disrupting money laundering in Canada. Among them is a ban on businesses other than financial institutions accepting cash payments of $10,000 or more. The new legislation also introduces significant increases to the fines that companies can face for failures in their anti-money-laundering controls. Migrant Rights Network spokesperson Syed Hussan expressed alarm at the changes, saying they would drastically restrict protections for refugees and immigrants. 'We're witnessing the deliberate expansion of a mass deportation machine designed to tear apart families and communities,' he said. NDP immigration critic Jenny Kwan told reporters that the bill could drive people whose visa applications have been cancelled or asylum claims unheard to live underground without documents. She also raised privacy concerns about proposals in the bill to allow government departments – including the immigration department – to share people's personal information. 'I'm very concerned that those who have submitted claims in the immigration system will, all of a sudden, find their application being withdrawn,' she added. Immigration lawyer Zool Suleman said the information-sharing proposal poses a threat to the civil liberties of all Canadians. Carney's aim to cut immigration marred by undercounting of temporary migrants, economists warn 'Everybody thinks they have nothing to hide. You'd be amazed at how much we do want to hide in terms of the personal lives that we lead in this country and that we have a right to lead in the country,' he said. 'The real issue is that the government should not be delving into your private life unless they have cause. And so what this bill is really doing is threatening the civil liberties of everybody in Canada.' Michael Geist, the University of Ottawa's Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, said measures to compel electronic service providers such as Rogers or Bell to provide information to the police and CSIS raise serious privacy concerns. He predicted that the bill could make electronic service providers such as Microsoft, Google or Meta produce information about their subscribers. He said the Supreme Court had knocked back previous attempts to gain access to such data without a warrant. 'The government has tried to bury this within a broader border bill to make it more immune to removal or amendment, which is troubling,' he said. The proposed legislation is the latest federal announcement designed to beef up the border with the United States after complaints from President Donald Trump that Canada has not done enough to stop illegal crossings and combat fentanyl smuggling, even though border agency data suggests only a tiny fraction of the drug in the U.S. comes from Canada. Mr. Trump has used those claims to justify tariffs on Canadian goods. Prime Minister Carney promised during the spring election campaign to address 'unsustainable' immigration levels and the Throne Speech said the government would restore 'balance to the system.' The government has been trying to cut the backlog in immigration and refugee applications and is reducing the number of permanent and temporary residents being admitted to Canada. Roxham Road in Quebec became a focal point for the immigration debate during the first Donald Trump presidency, with thousands of people claiming asylum after crossing the Canadian border onto the small rural road, about 50 kilometres south of Montreal. More recently, the government has reported an increase in the number of international students making asylum claims when their visas expire. With reports from Marie Woolf, Stefanie Marotta, Alexandra Posadzki and the Canadian Press.
Toronto Sun
14 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
JAY GOLDBERG: Canada Post and illicit drugs: another reason to privatize a failing Crown corporation
A row of mailboxes are shown outside Canada Post of the sorting plant in northeast Calgary on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. Photo by Brent Calver / Postmedia Network There are many reasons to private Canada Post. The fact that cartels use the postal service to help facilitate the contraband drug trade should be one of them. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account As Canadian consumers and small businesses are left in limbo about whether mail delivery will once again be interrupted by a strike for a lengthy period, as was the case last November, a new report shows a lesser-known danger of leaving Canada Post with a government-mandated monopoly. Many Canadians know that Canada Post continues to lose hundreds of millions of dollars a year and has required multiple government bailouts. Some Canadians know that Canada Post is on a trajectory toward bankruptcy, which would leave taxpayers holding the bag. What fewer Canadians know about is how the illegal drug trade is flourishing through Canada Post's delivery services. A new report by David Clement called 'Cartel Activity in Canada' looks at the illicit drug trade in Canada. The report was written in the wake of the Trump administration's focus on illegal drugs flowing across the Canada-United States border, which has played a role in the two countries' months' long tariff dispute. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Mexican drug cartels are a major problem in Canada, according to Clement. Their presence in Canada has been growing for the past 20 years. While Clement does not believe Mexican drug cartels are as prevalent in Canada as the Trump administration seems to believe, he notes that they are a big problem nonetheless, with the RCMP noting Mexican drug cartels are now engaging in drug trafficking, money laundering, and human smuggling within Canada's borders. Where does Canada Post come into play? Recent research shows that a lot of illegal drug markets are increasingly moving online. These online retail platforms mirror legal online marketplaces but sell goods that are not legal. These drug markets sell everything from cocaine to contraband tobacco, often paid for via E-transfer, and shipped directly to the door via Canada Post. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. As Clement notes , 'Because these online retailers are using Canada Post for shipping, Canada Post has become a massive facilitator in the market for illegal drugs.' In some cases, Clement finds that these illegal drug marketplaces will ship packages via other couriers. But predominantly, Canada Post appears to be the carrier of choice. Why Canada Post? One can speculate that a big part of the reason is security and ease of access. These illegal drug traders are likely to use the shipping service that is the least secure because they will be the least likely to get caught. The fact that traffickers prefer Canada Post speaks to a lack of security within the network. It's little wonder why. Canada Post lost over $800 million last year alone and hasn't posted a profit since 2017. A Crown corporation doing that poorly has bare cupboards and a limited ability to improve security. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. This is yet another reason to privatize Canada Post. Countries across Europe have privatized their postal services, and the outcome has been more efficiency, better quality of service, and, in turn, better security. Canada Post could benefit from taking the same path. Canadians cannot accept the status quo with Canada Post. Consumers shouldn't be held hostage to increasingly regular strike threats. Taxpayers shouldn't have to provide billion-dollar bailouts. And drug traders shouldn't be able to take advantage of a beleaguered delivery service to deliver illicit drugs. Canada Post's own CEO, Doug Ettinger, says that things must change. And one of the reasons why is that Canada Post is living in the past. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Our current structure was built for a bygone era of letter mail – the status quo…is not an option.' According to Canada Post's very own CEO, the organization is still built for a bygone era of household mail delivery. It is little wonder why Canada Post has become a target for the illicit drug trade. It's time to end the Canada post nightmare, for the sake of both consumers and taxpayers. Canada Post should be privatized and modernized, and doing so will represent an important step toward cracking down on the illicit drug trade in Canada. — Jay Goldberg is the Canadian Affairs Manager at the Consumer Choice Center Celebrity Toronto & GTA Canada Toronto Blue Jays Toronto & GTA
