Not taxpayer funded

Re. Malcolm Roberts letter Canada Post Neds change (Castanet, Dec. 12)

In his letter Malcom Roberts states , "Canada Post is a Crown corporation and, as such, is financially supported by the Canadian government—read taxpayers.”

This is not true.

Canada Post is a Crown corporation that operates at arm's length from the government and its operations are funded by the revenue generated by the sale of its products and services, not taxpayer dollars.

In fact, Canada Post must pay dividends to the federal government, as the federal government is its major shareholder.

Under the Canada Post Act, Canada Post is charged with providing delivery service to all parts of Canada, which is a massive expense not faced by competing courier services that deliver mainly to lucrative urban areas.

Canada Post has lost a great deal of revenue due to the fact that the government allowed competing couriers to operate in the lucrative parcel delivery business, while Canada Post is saddled with having to deliver mail to every address in the country.

In order to deliver to all Canadians, which must be maintained as not all Canadians are on the Internet, perhaps the federal government should reinstate the money losing federal mail delivery service, run by the Government, like it was before 1981, when the Crown corporation was established. That would allow Canada Post, as a parcel delivery service, to compete on an even playing field seven days per week.

Canada Post can not compete with courier services when saddled with the responsibility of delivering letters and flyers, rather than just the more lucrative parcel delivery.

Two separate services (would mean) more employment.

Enough of this, “I’m a taxpayer, I’m paying your salary.” No, you are not.

Canada Post, like any other business, earns its own money by providing its own services.

Dennis Cooper, Lake Country