The federal government is “discussions” with Canada Post to find alternatives to the distribution of local weeklies after the announced death of Publisac within a few weeks.
“The Minister [Jean-Yves] Duclos is discussing with Canada Post, an independent Crown corporation, to find solutions for the distribution of local newspapers,” said the office of the federal Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Jean-Yves Duclos.
The content of the discussions has not been revealed.
On Friday afternoon, the Bloc Québécois returned to the charge to ask the Trudeau government to “pressure” for Canada Post to take over from TC Transcontinental, distributor of Publisac.
“Ottawa cannot simply sit idly by in the face of the slaughter predicted for these newspapers which are witnesses to regional and local life,” say Bloc members Martin Champoux and Julie Vignola in a press release.
The latter denounce the distribution cost three times, or even up to four times, higher than Canada Post compared to TC Transcontinental’s service.
“As long as all media have not been able to make an effective transition to digital, and as long as Quebecers in all regions need them, local weeklies and newspapers must be able to be distributed to all addresses », they insist.
A meeting on this subject between Mr. Duclos and Catherine Fournier, the mayor of Longueuil and former PQ MP, took place last month.
Mme Fournier presented a plan to promote local media which also called for an increased role for Canada Post. More than a low cost, the mayor is outright calling for the free distribution of local newspapers.
TC Transcontinental, which printed Publisac, announced in November the gradual end of its service between February and May. Once essential, Publisac has slowly lost its relevance with the rise of digital technology and environmental concerns.