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Andersen to lobby for changes to excessive Canada Post rates for northern customers February 23, 2007 Wally Andersen, Opposition Critic for Aboriginal Affairs and Tourism, Culture and Recreation and MHA for the District of Torngat Mountains, is raising concerns on what he considers excessive rates and unfair treatment to residents living in northern regions of Canada. Andersen feels that rates currently charged by Canada Post are unfair to people living on the north coast of Labrador, and do not provide the same level of affordable service provided to other regions of Canada. As an example, Andersen cited the rates for shipping an 8kg package from Goose Bay. If this package was being sent to Nain, the total cost would be $36.42. However, sending it several thousand kilometres across the country to Vancouver would only cost $20.30. "The residents of northern Labrador communities are certainly not receiving equal and affordable service from Canada Post," said Mr. Andersen. "Not only do residents living in these communities rely more heavily upon their mail service, they are paying substantially more to receive this service. Most communities in my district are small and isolated and families rely upon Canada Post to ship clothing and other essential goods to their towns. Unfortunately, the increased cost of shipping parcels to northern regions is very expensive and many families are struggling to afford this service. "I will be traveling to Ottawa later today to meet with Canada Post officials in an effort to have this issue addressed. I will be joined by our federal Member of Parliament, Todd Russell, who will also lobby to have a more equitable mail service established throughout Canada, including the north coast of Labrador. There are obvious problems with the current system and they must be discussed and rectified. Our northern regions should not be punished because of geography, and our people should not have to pay excessive fees for service that are provided at a much lower cost to other Canadians. I am hopeful that this meeting will educate officials at Canada Post and a more equitable rate structure will be established that will benefit the residents living on the north coast of Labrador."
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