The mayoress of Montreal said she was “exasperated” by the distribution of the Publisac by Canada Post this month, despite the municipal by-law prohibiting it.
Updated yesterday at 7:41 p.m.
At a press conference on Thursday, Valérie Plante called on the federal company to cease its collaboration with Transcontinental and asked merchants to boycott this advertising product. She also calls on Ottawa to support her.
“The model based on waste, we don’t want it in Montreal,” said the mayor. “The federal government and Canada Post: put on your pants! The messages must [sur la transition écologique] follow the actions. »
Montreal passed a municipal by-law prohibiting Transcontinental from distributing its Publisac. But late last summer, the company turned to Canada Post for distribution, since federal crown corporations are not subject to municipal bylaws.
Mme Plante rejects Canada Post’s argument that the Crown corporation cannot refuse to deliver mail. “That’s not true,” said M.me Plant. “It’s a business decision. »
The Mayor of Montreal held her press conference in front of a truck loaded with 16 tons of paper. This quantity represents all the Publisacs thrown away for recycling in one week for the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough alone. This is where, two weeks ago, Canada Post and Transcontinental undertook a “pilot project” for the distribution of a plastic-free Publisac by letter carriers.
In Ottawa on Thursday, Canada Post’s position was reiterated. “Canada Post has a legal obligation under the Canada Post Corporation Act to accept delivery of all mail, subject to the regulations on inadmissible items,” said the office of the Minister of Services. Services and Procurement, Helena Jaczek, by email. As a Crown corporation, Canada Post’s decisions to deliver or refuse to deliver neighborhood mail are subject to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and are independent of the federal government. »
The statement added that “we understand the issues surrounding the Publisac”.
The administration knew, accuses the opposition
The Official Opposition at City Hall, for its part, criticizes the municipal administration for not having acted more quickly, when it knew that the distribution by Canada Post was a threat.
“During the public consultation in 2019, one of the recommendations made by the commissioners of Ensemble Montréal was that the administration should sit down with Canada Post to ensure that it does not resume the distribution of the Publisac and respects the spirit of the regulations,” Stéphanie Valenzuela, spokesperson for the environment, said in an email.
She continued: “Obviously, Projet Montréal has been sitting on its hands for three years and has not been able to negotiate with Canada Post. Once again, we wake up with an acknowledgment of failure by Projet Montréal in terms of recycling management. »