WHEREAS Canada Post will not deliver unaddressed admail to addresses which have a block on this type of mail; AND WHEREAS Canada Post policy includes exemptions from blocking for unaddressed mailings from the House of Commons, provincial chief electoral officers, municipal electoral officers and Elections Canada; AND WHEREAS local governments may, from time to time, undertake bulk mail-outs, such as public opinion surveys, intended to reach all constituents: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Canada Post be requested to amend its unaddressed admail policy to include an exemption for bulk mail-outs by local governments.
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure Communities Minister of State Transport As a Crown corporation, Canada Post operates at arms length from the Government of Canada. The Minister of Transport, as minister responsible for Canada Post, determines the broad policy direction of the corporation, while respecting its operational autonomy in other matters, including those related to its policy on unaddressed admail. Canada Post currently has in place a Consumer Choice Program that allows customers to opt out from receiving unaddressed advertisements. These include free samples, coupons, flyers and newspapers, free distribution magazines, catalogues as well as non-profit and event information. However, this also includes municipal service notices; for example, snow removal schedules, garbage pickup changes and town hall meeting announcements. Canadians can participate in the Consumer Choice Program by placing a note on their mailboxes stating that they do not wish to receive unaddressed admail. In creating the Consumer Choice Program, Canada Post has made every attempt to respect consumers wishes. However, it was also determined that some exceptions to the Consumer Choice Program were necessary. These exceptions include notices from federal, provincial and municipal electoral offices, community newspapers and householder mailings from Members of Parliament. Under section 35 of the Canada Post Corporation Act, Canada Post is obliged to deliver up to four mailings per year of printed matter from Members of Parliament. Canada Post appreciates the concern that unaddressed mail from municipal governments, as opposed to municipal electoral offices, may not be reaching all Canadians since these items are not excluded from the Consumer Choice Program. However, in all cases where consumers indicate a preference through the Program to not receive unaddressed mail, a notice card is left with customers listing the items they will no longer receive. This allows consumers to make an informed decision about whether they wish to receive this material. Currently, only about 7 of customers have indicated through the Customer Choice Program that they do not wish to receive unaddressed mail. Canada Post continues to deliver this mail to 93 of all Canadian households.
Federation of Canadian Municipalities At the Annual Conference the resolution was voted as a Category B resolution - not a municipal responsibility. No action is taken on Category B resolutions. Canada Post Canada Posts Consumers Choice program was implemented over ten years ago to address requests from consumers who did not wish to receive unaddressed advertising by mail. From the outset, we made every attempt to respect their wishes. However, it was also determined that some exceptions to the program were necessary. Therefore, exceptions were made for notices from federal, provincial and municipal electoral offices, community newspapers, and householder mailings from Members of the House of Commons. With respect to the latter, we are obliged, under Section 35 of the Canada Post Corporation Act, to deliver up to four mailings per year of printed matter from Members of Parliament. I understand the concern that unaddressed mail from municipal governments may not be reaching all Canadians because these items are not excluded from the Consumers Choice program. However, in all cases where the consumer indicates a preference through the Consumers Choice program to not receive unaddressed mail, we leave them a notice card listing the items they will no longer receive if they subscribe to the program. This allows the consumer to make an informed decision about whether they wish to receive this material. It should also be noted that currently only about 7 of our customers have indicated through the program that they do not wish to receive unaddressed mail. We continue to deliver this mail to 93 of all Canadian households.