Canada Post will distribute a new Transcontinental advertising booklet on the territory of Montreal, replacing the Publisac, from May 15, despite the opposition of the City, but invites citizens to signal their refusal if they do not want it .
“Montreal residents and businesses can expect Canada Post to continue delivering all their mail after May 17, 2023,” the Crown corporation said in a “statement” released late Monday.
May 17 is the effective date of the new by-law of the City of Montreal which prohibits the distribution of promotional items from door to door to people who have not requested it.
The packaging of advertising leaflets in plastic is also banned, which has sounded the death knell for the Publisac in the metropolis.
To circumvent the municipal by-law, Transcontinental turned to Canada Post to distribute the advertisements it prints in Montreal. The Crown corporation says it does not have to comply with the by-law decreed by the City.
Last fall, letter carriers delivered the Publisac for eight weeks, but the weight of the advertising bag led to a spike in work injuries and overtime, prompting Canada Post to put the experiment on hold.
“It was catastrophic for the workers,” said Alain Robitaille, president of the Montreal branch of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (STTP), who had not yet been informed of the terms of distribution of the new advertising product.
No more plastic
Transcontinental unveiled earlier this month what will replace the Publisac in Montreal: a thin, quarter-folded notebook that combines flyers from several retailers into a single printout of a limited number of pages, without plastic packaging. It will be complemented by a digital platform where consumers can find promotional offers.
“Research shows that a majority of consumers continue to rely on paper flyers to plan their store visits,” said Patrick Brayley, senior vice-president at Transcontinental, in a press release. “Flyers allow Montrealers to fight inflation with savings of up to $1,500 per year. »
“We have taken note of the new brochure that Transcontinental is developing. The format meets our requirements and the flyer will be delivered,” said Philippe Legault, Canada Post media relations manager, in a written statement.
Violation of voluntary membership
But the state corporation invites those who do not want this leaflet to indicate it in their mailbox, as provided for by the Consumers’ Choice program, which makes it possible to avoid receiving unaddressed advertising mail. Canada Post will make this program better known in the Montreal area, says Mr. Legault.
“To stop receiving unaddressed advertising mail, put a note on your mailbox indicating that you do not wish to receive it, so that it is clearly visible to your letter carrier. If your mail is delivered to a community post office box, multiple post office box or post office box, place the note on the inside edge of the door,” the Canada Post website explains.
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
In April 2022, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante announced a voluntary membership system.
The municipal by-law of Montreal provided that citizens who wish to receive advertisements put a sticker on their mailbox (“ opt-in “), while Canada Post does the opposite (” opt out “).
Mayor Valérie Plante’s office has expressed its dissatisfaction with the government corporation’s decision. “The continued delivery of direct mail by Canada Post flouts the firmly expressed will of the people of Montreal, who want the arrival of the model aimed at reducing waste, i.e. voluntary membership,” said the mayor’s press attaché. , Catherine Cadotte, in a written statement.
“The status quo model proposed by Canada Post dates from another era and has failed to prevent the delivery of unsolicited direct mail. If this model had worked, the population of Montreal would not have had to mobilize so strongly to demand its revision. Our administration has put in place clear regulations and we expect them to be respected by everyone, including Canada Post, who must be an exemplary corporate citizen. »