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by Cathy Olliffe + Despite Canada Post's assurances that changes in the postal delivery system will be beneficial, many peo- ple are concerned and angered about the proposal to amalgamate rural post offices. At least two citizens groups have been formed across the country: "Citizens United for Equitable Postal "Services, formed in Manitoba and now spreading into Ontario; and Rural Dignity, started by a church group in Quebec. On a more local level, New Democrats met January 7th in: Bowmanville to discuss the future of postal delivery and decide what they can do to preserve the rural post office. The meeting, according to Wilf Day, president of the Federal NDP riding association, was small but animated. "It was a better meeting than ex- pected, beth in turnout and discus- sion," he said. Nearly 30 people, including eight who were not New-Democrats, met in a high school classroom to debate an issue close to their hearts. They are afraid of losing local post offices and rural delivery to super mailboxes. "I feel what's going on is simply not acceptable," Mr. Day said. * 'more annoyed about the. group boxes than anything else. The post . office is doing this to save money and I believe the money they save from closing small community post -offices is infintismal. "You takea community such as Caesarea. Granted, Caesarea is on- ly 3'2 miles or so'from Blackstock, but Caesarea is a community and the people there want and deserve their own post office." "Deserving" service is a word that comes up often when discuss- ing the issue with members of the NDP. Marg Wilbur, candidate for the. NDP nomination of Durham East provincial riding, says Cana- dians have to décide whether ~ Canada Post is a service dr a business. If it's going to be run as a business, she agrees the deficit has to be slashed. On the other hand, she personally believes postal delivery is a service, and should be run as a 'service to people even though it isn't profitable, the same way, for exam- ple, the Toronto Transit Commis- sion or hospitals are run. Wg NT 'I'm' "handle the "SS N r '8 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, January 13, 1987 Fighting to keep rural post offices "It's the age old problem, whether we're put in this world to make money or to provide service for peo- ple," she said. -Amalgamating post offices wouldn't affect some people, Mrs. Wilbur admits, but others, par- ticularly those without transporta- * tion such as senior citizens, will adversely affected. "It's hardest on certain groups of people such as the elderly or single mothers, who either have problems walking or are forced to walk with the kids in tow," she said. "It's not 50 hard on people with cars." What's more, she's fighting the closure of rural post offices because "they're much more than just places to pick up mail. "In a place like Caesarea or Nestleton, the post office is a com- munity centre for many people; she said. Roger Couvrette, parliamentary . | assistant to NDP MP Cyril Keeper, agrees. "In a lot of small places, the post office is the only sign of the federal government. It's the only place where the Canadian flag is flown," he said. ;'It is an institution. Andit's a place where people congregate." For many people, a trip to the post | office is an excuse to do some socializing, a chance to meet up with friends and pass the time of day. For some people, it's the only time they get out. More than that, the + rural post office is a Canadian tradition. Ll just couldn't handle it safely." And while Mrs. Christie doesn't object to boxes in larger subdivi- sions, and doesn't agree with those who expect door-to-door delivery, she is basically against group mailboxes in rural locations and the demise of rural post offices. She's not the only one who feels 'that way. In a random survey by the Port Perry Star, the majority of people questioned want rural post offices to remain the way they are. One woman, a senior citizen, said, "I hope it never closes." A Prince Albert resident who doesn't drive, she has no other way to get her mail othérthan walking. Another Prince Albert resident, Helen Calder, is also against possi- ble closing of her local post office. She signed a petition circulated late in 1986 and says she is "very ap- : prehensive about those stupid little +. According to Scugog councillor . Yvonne Christie, closing small post offices "is like slicing off a piece of our history." She says there are some areas of the country where amalgamation will work; and 'there. are other areas of the country where it won't' "work simply because of shifting population." In 1986, Mrs. Christie said Scugog Township Council received a letter from residents in Prince Albert who were afraid of losing their post of- ~ fice. Council went on record to sup-- port the post office, and for the time being, it is still open. If it were to close, Mrs. Christie feels the affect on Port Perry would be anything but positive. "Port Perry is not designed to increased traffic downtown that would result if the Prince 'Albert post office were to close," she said. "'Qur downtown S . boxes." Joyce Edwards, also from Prince Albert, said she would 'drive into Port Perry to pick up her mail, but says closing the-Prince Albert post office is "'a bad idea. It's nice to be able to walk to the post office and pick up your mail, and have a chit- chat with your neighbours and the other people there." Bill Fewer of Prince Albert said it short and sweet. "It stinks." Betty Headon of Nestleton said, *'I don't think it's a very good idea. I think we deserve to have our mail (delivered. Our taxes are high and 'we don't have lights or garbage pick-up or anything else. Besides, I really think we need the post office. I kriow there's one in Blackstock, but there are people who don't have vehicles. I know they'll end up do- ing it (closing rural post.gffices) but I wish they wouldn't do it." Of the postmasters, or managers as they are called by Canada Post, - 'spoken to by the Star, only one was willing to speak out on the issue. The others, only too aware of their status as employees of Canada.Post and union members, were reluctant "'to rock the boat." On the other hand, Ashburn manager Moira Griffen almost feels obligated to state how she feels. "If people aren't aware of what could happen," she says, "it (the Ashburn pest office) could close." The post office has been located in Ashburn since 1852, and for most of that time it has been situated in the : es a JANUARY uper Sale = SHOES™ 50% OFF PURSES Ail in-stock SLIPPERS All in-stock . i"; 25% OFF - 25% OFF SUPER SPECIALS Ladies' Bastien Boots .................... ---- Men's & Boys' Cougar Boots EE North Star Sno Joggers _-- TON. SU "Children's Runners ees a from $12.50 URHAM SHOES INC. 230 UEEN STREET - PORT PERRY YOUR FOOTWEAR SPEC IALISTS FOR: LADIES TEE NS -& CHILDREN Nb \ NEW WINTER STORE HOURS: WM) Monday to Saturday - 9:30 to 5:30 Ashburn general store. Mrs. Griffen says 140 people drop into the store just about every day to pick up their mail, drop letters off, and to share in what she calls "'the focal point of the community." She's very much afraid of having the post office closed down, and not just because of her own business. She takes pride in helping mail get- ting where its going, but more than that, she takes pride in her 'community. The post office, she says, is an in- tegral part of the community. And although she realizes that Canada Post is only trying to reduce its deficit, shegaid, "I honestly don't think it will be the great cost-cutting venture they (Canada Post) hope it will be." She's afraid if rural post offices are closed, and rural delivery is reduced by mailboxes, Canada Post will effectively end all good rela- tions it ever had with the public. Like Moira Griffen, and people like her, Marg Wilbur doesn't. want to see the rural post office become a thing of the past. She is inviting all people concern- ed with the issue to write their members of parliament and contact their municipalities. "The government has backed down before," she said. 'If people make enough fuss, maybe it will happen again.' Postal future is still up in the air From pagel poration's financial position, Mr. Roworth says several avenues are being explored. A rate increase "will be coming up," to keep up "with the cost of living." A small percentage -of that increase, he adds, will be put towards | the deficit reduction. Improved management of the cor- poration, as well as redueed management are also being looked at, he says. But the most, controversial, and possibly the biggest cost-cutting move, will be the re-organization of rural post offices throughout the country. "We're reviewing them on a cer- tain criteria," Mr. Roworth stress- _ ed. "It doesn't mean we're going to close them all." | Revenue offices sure to come under immediate peview are those 'where postmasters (or "managers," as they are now refer- red to by Canada Post) retire, sell, or move for whatever reasons. It's part of the corporation's "attrition" policy which Mr. Rowarth says has been operating for a few years. All others, however, will eventual: ly be reviewed. - + + If, after review, Canada Post decides to close gr amalgamate, several alternatives would be look- ed at, Mr. Roworth says. _. First off, he explains, the revenue office in question would more than likely be amalgamated with the "closest nearby office. Then, a com- munity mailbox service would be set up in a location close to where the former revenue office was located. "People would have access to their mail 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That's the adv antage," he said. The disadvantage, he says, is picking up C.0.D.'s or registered letters. In those cases, people would be forced to drive to the closest com- munity post office. But according to Mr. Roworth, it wouldn't be that much of a problenr. According to statistics, the av erage month, and recejves few registered letters or parcels. And as for buying stamps. he says a local person will be licensed to sell postage stamps in each community, likely an existing merchant. While some people, he admits. will be inconvenienced by the pro- posed system, he says it will be a benefit to others, particularly two- income families that commute to a workplace outside their mailing address. "'As these urban centres spread out, more and more people are us- ing these (small villages) as bedfoom communities," -he said. "For commuters, it will be more convenient to pick up their mail somewhere else.' Another change Canada Post is considering, he says, is the possibili- ty of placing group mailboxes at strategic points on rural roads. At the present time, mail is delivered to most individual homes along rural routes. If the change is made. rural route mail will still be delivered, but instead of being put directly in an individual's mailbox, it will be placed in group mailboxes" nearby. "It's all based on streamlining the service,' Mr. Roworth said. For now, the rural routes will re- main as they are. Rural post offices, on the other hand, could be affected 'any time--with 90 days notice. r S Mr. Roworth declined to say what ,offices are under review for fear of creating *'sbme very anxious people for no reason at all." The decisions on the fate of of- fices, he says, will be made after a "consultation process--there will be - no amalgamation without local consultation." He says'if a community can pro- ve the office is self-supporting and an integral part of the community. it might not be amalgamated. In any case, the community will have 90 days notice. "To keep their apprehensions at a minimum, we don't do this holus- bolus. We don't go in overnight and board up the windows and put locks on the doors," he said. He's aware of the sentimental value Sched i to small post offices. but he admits 'compassion would not be the primary consideration" in a review. Canadian mails only 10 letters a About the - traditions and sen- timentality attached to rural post of- fices, he says "The NHL used to call it the old hot stove. I just want tosay we're not going to go in and steal their pot-bellied stove." Say it with ; J BALLOON BOUQUET Add to Your Bouquet Candy. Frun Wine. Jams and Mints The Balloon House Delivery Available 986-5105 a b y : EY g tw Jit J en Meh NI el