The recent CUPW vote rejecting Canada Post’s final offer has extended uncertainty across Canada’s postal network, harming the economy at a time when national unity and cooperation are critical. A stable, efficient postal service is vital to Canada’s economic health.
The Canadian Printing Industries Association urges the Government to act decisively to stabilize negotiations, ensure service continuity, and implement reforms from the Industrial Inquiry Commission’s (IIC) 2025 report.
The CPIA is ready to support with data, communications, and advocacy.
We call on the Canadian Government to pursue the following 8 actions:
1. Intensive Mediation & Timelines
Mediate CPC and CUPW on a fixed 10–14 day schedule.
2. Service Continuity Planning
Direct CPC to publish weekly peakseason operational updates including rural/remote contingency measures.
3. Public Confidence Communication
Explain the vote outcome and next steps to all Canadians and reassure households and businesses of government action.
4. Lift Moratoriums
End blanket bans on rural post-office closures and community mailbox conversions, while ensuring minimumaccess standards.
5. Flexible Delivery Models
Negotiate part-time, weekend, and dynamicrouting roles to grow parcels.
6. Require a Viability Plan
Tie the $1.034B solvency facility to measurable KPIs in parcel growth, service performance, and cost control.
7. Modernize Pricing Authority
Enable more timely letter-rate adjustments to reflect actual costs.
8. Structural Reform Plan
The CPIA urges the federal government to amend the Canada Post Corporation Act to modernize Canada Post’s Charter, ensuring it reflects the changing needs of Canadian businesses, residents, and rural communities.
Canadian Printing Industries Association, 455 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON, M4K 1P1
cpia-aci.ca
1 CPIA Commitments to Support Government and CPC. The CPIA will:
1. Act as the Voice of the Customer
Provide CPC and government with aggregated industry data on mailing volumes, delivery performance, and economic impacts of service disruption.
2. Stabilize Market Confidence
Issue weekly advisories to CPIA members and mail-reliant sectors during the negotiation period, aligned with CPC’s operational updates.
3. Advocate for Balanced Reform
Publicly support reforms that protect service accessibility while enabling CPC’s financial sustainability.
4. Promote Peak-Season Protection
– CUPW)
Encourage a tri-party compact (Government–CPC to arbitration before Q4 peak season.
5. Drive “Buy Local, Ship Local” Initiatives
to refer unresolved bargaining issues
Partner with CPC on programs to strengthen SMB participation in e-commerce shipping through the postal network.
Action is Urgent
• 68–69% of CUPW members voted against CPC’s final offers.
• CPC faces an existential financial crisis without reform, risking service degradation and loss of market share to private carriers.
• Delayed action compounds volume loss—mailers who leave often do not return.
• Uncertainty erodes confidence across commerce, publishing, and community communications.
The CPIA urges Parliament, CPC, and CUPW to treat the next weeks as decisive. Stabilizing service and implementing IIC-recommended reforms will protect a vital national infrastructure, maintain Canada Post’s relevance, and sustain the many industries and communities that depend on it.
