“This already costly, inefficient service… a service that’s been bleeding commercial business… just sent me a letter stating their marketing and commercial mail service rates are going up, effective January 13, 2025.”

Like the straw that broke the camel’s back, this may be the column that gets me kicked out of the family.

Two close relatives on my father’s side were loyal Canada Post employees their entire working lives, blessed with unionized job security and generous pensions. Neither would thank me for criticizing their former workplace, but even they would have to admit today’s corporation is not the employer they knew and loved.

Back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, a stamp would see a bulky envelope stuffed with homey news sent to expat relatives living and working elsewhere in Canada. Internet video chats didn’t yet exist and long-distance calls were a special occasion luxury; mail was the affordable way to stay in touch throughout the year. You could even select gifts from a local shop, wrap them with personal flourish and send them on their way for reasonable rates.

Less than 10 years ago, I used to send packages to my grandchildren for birthdays and other holidays. My son would capture videos of them as toddlers, literally lying on the box in their excitement, trying to cut it open with their safety scissors. (Fat chance: my husband’s a fan of waterproofing via packing tape.)

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