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. Pubilc Libraey Terrace Bay, Ont. EE BA VOL. 20 NO. I6 APRIL 20, 1977 | 20¢ PER COPY STOKES' OUTRAGED OVER POSTAL SERVICE LETTER TO: . the Hon. Jean-Jacques Blais, M.P. Postmaster General ; House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario ; Dear Mr. Blais: I am enclosing two letters I have received from constituents of mine complaining about the slowness and inefficiency of the postal service, especially in northern Ontario. These are only two of the myriad complaints I have received -- most of them verbal and many of them extremely irate -- from residents in the north about delays and confusions in the mail, The number of them has become so great that stock responses about government bureaucracy no long- er suffice: the situation demands your immediate attention and prompt redress. Postal ser-- vices in northern Ontario simply must be improved. As you are well aware, northern Ontario is one of many regions -throughout Canada which require a postal service specially adapted to their geographical circumstances. The popula- tion is sparse and scattered into small towns and settlements often a great distance apart. The techniques of mail distribution and automated sorting which are intended to work in major cities seem to apply much less well to the needs of those in the north. The result has been a continuous deterioration in the quality of postal service to the communities in northern Ontario over the past several years. When the extent of this deterioration is con- , Sidered in the context of the frequent and increasingly steep increases in rates for postal - service during the same period, the result leaves me quite frankly outraged. ; : Inconveniently placed though" they are for the burposes of high-volume mail distribution, my constituents in northern Ontario have no less need for prompt, effective postal service than do those in urban communities; indeed, in their relative isolation, they may depend upon it more. Surely it goes without saying that they have no less entitlement to 1&, either. I trust this matter will have your personal attention. Yours sincerely, ' (signed) Jack Stokes, M.P.P. Lake Nipigon >