MP Atamanenko Outraged at Princeton Postal Franchise Opening

Alex Atamanenko, MP for BC Southern Interior, has learned that the Canada Post Corporation has opened a franchise postal outlet in Princeton, just steps from the main post office.

“I am outraged at the irresponsible decision by Canada Post that creates direct competition with an existing corporate post office,” said Atamanenko. “This is not the fault of the private business operating the postal outlet. It is another example of the unspoken agenda of Canada Post to privatize and shut down its corporate offices.”

Atamanenko has written to the CEO of Canada Post, Deepak Chopra, to express his concerns at this latest example of poor decision making and to urge the corporation to protect current postal services. “Canada Post will use the reduction in business at their corporate offices to justify further downsizing of services and reductions in staffing and hours,” said the NDP MP. “The loss of good-paying jobs will be a blow to our small communities.”

Atamanenko pointed out that in February of this year a dealership outlet was also opened in the town of Osoyoos, across the street from the main post office, and that Canada Post has plans to open more franchise operations in other Southern Interior communities.

“I would like to call upon local Chambers of Commerce and others in our communities to support our postal workers and speak out against the creeping privatization of our postal services,” said Atamanenko. “The survival of our rural communities depends upon it.”