The following letter was sent to member of Parliament John Weston and copied to Coast Reporter.
My very "with it" 101-year-old mom alerted me to the advertisement in Coast Reporter (Nov. 19) about Canada Post proposing to close post offices, rural route and mailbox services. We were both aptly shocked.
Mom writes letters and cards all over the world - in fact - that's what she was doing today. On moving to Halfmoon Bay a year ago, it was bad enough not having a mailbox outside our house here, but to propose disbanding these mailbox services is ludicrous.
Canada Post's monopoly on the mail and the way they operate internally as a business is pitiful, from my experience, as my ex-husband has worked for them for 10 years. It was a travesty to see how our taxpayer's money is wasted in "operating" the business of being keepers of the nation's mail.
Recently, I paid $55 to airmail a package to Aus-tralia on Oct. 14. On tracking the parcel, it was still in Vancouver on Oct. 29 and is still missing in action. This is Canada Post's airmail service?
Our Sechelt Post Office is such a hive of activity that it's often difficult to find parking. It's a necessary institution that this village desperately needs. The thought that it is threatened with possible closure is unbelievable. The people of Halfmoon Bay - many aged and handicapped - also need their roadside mailbox service. What would be the alternative?
Frances McGuckin (and Emilie Shaw)
Halfmoon Bay
