Canada Post is currently facing significant financial difficulties due to declining mail volumes and increasing operational costs. The price of stamps has risen dramatically over the years, from approximately $0.10 in the past to $1.44 today.
Current Operations
- Canada Post operates five days a week, with some locations open six days a week.
- This schedule may be reconsidered in light of the growing trend towards digital communication.
Comparison with Other Countries
- In England, the postal service operates on a reduced schedule of three days a week while still delivering essential services such as package delivery and bill payments.
- Experts suggest that reducing postal services could help lower government spending without causing significant disruption, as seen in other countries during economic downturns.
Financial Challenges
Officials at Canada Post have acknowledged the financial difficulties but have not provided specific plans to address these challenges. The shift towards digital communication raises questions about the necessity of traditional postal services.
Declining Mail Volumes
- Statistics Canada reports a decline of 1 billion pieces of mail delivered by Canada Post between 2019 and 2022 compared to 2017-2018.
- This decline is largely attributed to the rise in online shopping and the shift away from paper-based communications.
Revenue Decline
- Canada Post’s revenue has decreased by nearly $300 million between 2020 and 2022 compared to pre-pandemic levels.
- Management, including CEO Doug Ettinger, is concerned that more drastic measures may be necessary, such as:
- Reducing operating hours
- Cutting staff positions
- Closing underperforming post offices
- Potentially privatizing parts of the business
Government Considerations
Any changes to Canada Post’s operations would require approval from Parliament, which may be challenging due to opposition parties’ reluctance to cut funding for public institutions.
Potential Savings
Trimming back postal services could save billions annually and alleviate pressure on taxpayers. For instance:
- Closing all post offices except those in major retail stores could save millions while improving customer access to basic banking services.
- Scaling down the number of post offices to keep only the busiest ones open full-time could also result in significant savings.
Community Impact
It is crucial that any changes made ensure continued access to essential community-based programs offered through local post office branches, such as:
- Passport photo processing
- Parcel pickup and drop-off
- Money orders
- Lottery ticket sales
In conclusion, Canada Post’s financial struggles reflect broader trends in communication and commerce, necessitating a careful reevaluation of its services to adapt to changing consumer behaviors while maintaining essential community support.
I’m Mark W. Lamplugh Jr., a visionary Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, and best-selling Author with over 25 years of experience driving significant revenue growth and optimizing ROI across the healthcare, wellness, and media industries. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently transformed underperforming operations into thriving ventures by building top-tier marketing organizations, implementing data-driven strategies, and leading transformational change. My empathetic, collaborative, and adaptable leadership style has allowed me to cultivate inclusive cultures of innovation, develop and retain top talent, and forge strong partnerships that fuel organizational success.
Adept in executive leadership, strategic business planning, and brand and marketing strategy, I have a proven track record of boosting annual revenues—achieving up to $1.3B in oncology over three years and generating $360M in mental health initiatives. My approach combines strategic vision with hands-on execution, as evidenced by my success in launching innovative facilities, expanding services for addiction and mental health care, and enhancing organizational brand visibility. As author of “The AI Marketing Playbook,” I contribute thought leadership on the integration of artificial intelligence in marketing, a role that showcases my commitment to staying at the forefront of industry innovation.
I also bring my insights and expertise to a broad audience as the host of cable tv & global streaming of “Street Level Marketing Show,” while my writing has been featured in major publications such as Entrepreneur, Business.com, The Startup, and Kivo Daily. Whether I’m implementing targeted digital marketing campaigns that engage over a million individuals monthly or overseeing multi-million dollar budgets to maximize return on investment, I approach every challenge with a combination of strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and unwavering dedication. Above all, I am passionate about expanding access to high-quality addiction and mental health care through innovative solutions that drive both patient outcomes and organizational growth.
Mark serves on the board of One World for Life, National Fire Heritage Center, and the Institute for Responder Wellness.
Mark (https://marklamplugh.com) is one of the top marketing executives in the United States and has revolutionized how companies reach potential clients thru influence, SEO, social, PR, and traditional marketing. His expertise in Marketing, Social Media, Digital Marketing, and Public Relations has generated millions of dollars in revenue for several national companies. Mark documents many of his techniques in his book “Beginners Guide to Social & Digital Media.” and “Marketing Playbook for Social Media,” which was named the top 100 social media marketing books of all time by Book Authority. He’s also a professional advocate for the behavioral and mental health of firefighters and other first responders. Marks articles have been published in Better Marketing, Startup Magazine, Social Media Today, Kivo Daily, Biz Catalyst 360, Fire Engineering, Firehouse Magazine, and several others.
One of his companies, niches, are marketing products and services to the public safety industry and their employees, specifically mental & behavioral health services. He can be reached for comment at ceo@influencemediasolutions.com
23,000 #1 Connections, 40,000,000 US B2B Contacts and 300,000,000 B2b/B2C email contacts as well as 1,000,000+ monthly social media reach. https://marklamplugh.com
