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STRATEGIC REVIEW OF CANADA POST ANNOUNCED - April 21, 2008

OTTAWA — The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and Minister responsible for Canada Post, today announced that the Government of Canada will conduct a strategic review of the Canada Post Corporation that will be guided by established terms of reference.

“We are conducting a strategic review of Canada Post to make sure this public institution has the right tools and means to fulfil its mandate in the future,” said Minister Cannon. “This review is being conducted with the full understanding that Canada Post will remain a Crown corporation. In the changing business context and with new challenges ahead, we want to act now to make sure it continues to fulfil its mandate: delivering essential, universal services every day to Canadians, while remaining financially self-sustaining.”

The review will focus on four major areas: market and competition; public policy objectives and responsibilities; commercial activities; and financial and performance targets. A review of Canada Post has not been conducted since 1995.

The review will be led by an external, independent advisory panel composed of three members. “I am very pleased that Dr. Robert Campbell has agreed to chair the panel and that Mr. Daniel H. Bader and Mrs. Nicole Beaudoin will support him as panel members on this important review,” said Minister Cannon. “I look forward to their report and recommendations, which are due to me in December 2008.”

The panel will be guided by the following four principles:

• Canada Post will not be privatized and will remain a Crown corporation;
• Canada Post must maintain a universal, effective and economically viable postal service;
• Canada Post will continue to act as an instrument of public policy through the provision of postal services to Canadians; and
• Canada Post will continue to operate in a commercial environment and is expected to attain a realistic rate of return on equity.

“The review will be conducted with all Canadians in mind,” said Minister Cannon. “To this end, I have asked the advisory panel to consult with interested parties, including key stakeholders such as the unions. The Government of Canada wants a modern Canada Post for the future. We value the work of its dedicated workforce of over 70,000 employees.

Canadians are encouraged to provide written submissions to the panel by mail or e-mail, or through the following website: www.cpcstrategicreview.gc.ca.

A backgrounder with biographies of advisory panel members, a backgrounder on the Canada Post Corporation and the Government of Canada, and the review’s terms of reference are attached.

 

Contacts:	Karine White Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa 613-991-0700	Media Relations Transport Canada, Ottawa 613-993-0055
	Anne-Marie Bouchard Canada Post Corporation Strategic Review Secretariat, Ottawa 613-991-7795

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