Canada Post blames the decision to “temporarily stop” the sale of “this particular product” with health and safety concerns among its mail carriers and postal workers who deliver mail door-to-door.

In an email reply to a request for The pressCanada Post writes: “Following concerns about this particular product [le Publisac], we have decided to temporarily suspend delivery to the Montreal areas where it has been distributed while we conduct a health and safety review. »

“Postal Canada has a responsibility to make delivery and ensure that its staff, who visit hundreds of addresses every day, can safely deliver all mail,” the government agency’s press office said.

According to the latest allegations from union leaders in the Montreal-area postal workers, since Canada Post began distributing them last October, the inclusion of the Publisac, a collection of bagged promotional documents, is at the root of almost half of postmen’s workload of industrial accidents and mail delivery delays reported at Montreal post offices.

In his email reply to The pressAt most, Canada Post confirms that “a verification process is underway, and [qu’elle a] had discussions with the client TC Transcontinental”.

This Montreal printing and packaging company, valued at $1.34 billion on the stock exchange, is the promoter and supplier of the Publisac.

Controversial cast

Remember that since Canada Post began distributing the Publisac on the island of Montreal last October, Mayor Valérie Plante had strongly criticized Crown Corporation’s decision during a press conference.

According to M^me In doing so, Plante, Canada Post ignored a new municipal bylaw in Montreal that, beginning in May 2023, stipulates restricting the issuance of the Publisac at the doors of residents who have indicated their desire to receive it, specifically with a sticker attached to their mailbox.

Since its adoption in April 2022, this ordinance on the distribution of the Publisac in Montreal has received the support of the 85 congregations of the Metropolitan Community of Montreal (CMM).

This support on the part of the CMM was expressed notably by the submission of a moratorium request to the federal government, which is responsible for the overall governance and administration of Canada Post Corporation (Canada Post).

Furthermore, the controversy surrounding the unsolicited door-to-door distribution of the Publisac dates back to an initial ban decided by the City of Mirabel in October 2019.

Quickly challenged in court by the company TC Transcontinental, this regulatory decision by Mirabel was nevertheless found legitimate by the Superior Court in April 2022.