January 15, 2007

(Letter sent to the editor of the Brampton Guardian)

Dear Editor:

I read with interest the letter entitled "Put an end to junk mail" signed by Vincent Last. I would like to point out some missing key information.

Canada Post always respects a consumer's choice not to receive unaddressed material. Anyone who does not wish to receive admail can simply affix a clear notice on the outside of their mail receptacle. This allows Canada Post to better serve its customers and ensures unaddressed material reaches those who value it.

Contrary to what Mr. Last seems to suggest, many Canadians actually value admail. In fact, research demonstrates that over 60 per cent of Canadians look through unaddressed advertising mail while more than 80 per cent of them read advertising mail directly addressed to them. Since Canada Post began giving consumers a choice of not receiving unaddressed material, only some two per cent of Canadians actually chose not to receive it.

Mr. Last also argues that advertising mail does not constitute mail. Actually, postal administrations have been delivering mail for over a century. Advertising mail is one of Canada Post's most important products. Thanks to the revenues generated by this product, Canada Post is able to continue to deliver mail to its ever-expanding network at a cost that remains one of the lowest among all industrialized nations.

François Legault
Manager, National Media Relations
613-734-8888
Canada Post - Postes Canada
N0890 - 2701 PROM RIVERSIDE DR
OTTAWA ON K1A 0B1