July 7, 2005

(Translation of a letter to the editor sent to Le Devoir)

Dear Editor:

I read with great interest the letter from Mr. Robert Brisebois published in your July 7 issue and entitled Lettres: une aberration de trois kilos [Letters: a three-kilo absurdity]. The concerns expressed by Mr. Brisebois are completely legitimate and I have no doubt they are shared by many, including myself.

However, what I don't understand about his approach is that he targets Canada Post. Our role is limited to delivering the mail that is entrusted to us. Furthermore, Canada Post is far from being the only company to distribute promotional items.

Undoubtedly, Direct Mail is popular with advertisers, and for good reason: 61 percent of Canadians say they read their mail as soon as they receive it. It is unquestionably an effective means of communication… with people who wish to receive this type of mail. However, Canadians you do not want to receive this type of mail can simply stick a pictogram or "No flyers" notice on their mailbox and Canada Post will stop delivering all flyers that do not bear an address. With regard to promotional mail items addressed to you personally, we encourage you to contact the Canadian Marketing Association to remove your name from the marketing lists that its members (more than 800 companies) use when they promote their products and services.

We at Canada Post are also concerned about the environment. We therefore also encourage our customers who do not wish to receive promotional mail to let us know by affixing a sticker to their mailbox and informing the Canadian Marketing Association: fewer trees will be cut down and our service will be more effective.

Catherine Lortie
Spokesperson