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Home My WebLink AboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1984-03-21, Page 19age, 6861r040-40411 21, 1984 Mainstream Canada -_J Postal "experiment" should be stamped out By W. Roger Worth The Canadian Federation of Independent Business is upset about a decision by the government-owned Canada Post to get into the retail business. With 64,000 mem- bers operating small and medium-sized enterprises, more than a third of them retail outlets, there's little wonder the organization is complaining. "In a vote on the issue, al- most 90 per cent of our mem- bers were opposed to such a plan," says the CFIB's Ex- ecutive Director, Legislative Affairs, Jim Bennett. In its latest move, Canada Post has set up catalogue kiosks for consumer goods, in co-operation with retailer Consumers Distributing, at eight postal stations, al- though the plan may even- tually include all 8,000 postal offices. _ Canada Post expects to earn extra revenue from the retail system, in addition to the fees it charges for deliv- ering the product. On the surface it may seem a reasonable plan. The problem, of course, is that it creates unfair competition for retailers and particularly smaller merchants who have invested heavily to service a local market. Here's why Canada Post's President Michael Warren should not be proud of this new "venture." — Canadian taxpayers, in- cluding small retailers, sub- sidize Canada Post to the tune of $300 -million per year for what is, many times, lacklustre service. In lay- man's terms, that's an aver- age_$ 04Le year direct cost CHUCK STE 3006 kg PRICES IN EFFECT 9 A.M. WED. MARCH 21 UNTIL CLOSING SAT. MAR. 24 WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT PURCHASES TO REASONABLE WEEKLY FAMILY REQUIREMENTS CUT FROM CANADA "A" GRADE BEEF K SALE! _ _;,CHUCK STEAKS RIBs CUT ROAST PRIDE OF CANADA S.P. BONELESS BUTT COTTAGE ROLL COUNTRY GOLD 175 g SLICED SALAMI (37/kg 1.98 Ib. 3.95/kg 1.791b. 99' for every worker in the country. — 'That means taxpayers will directly subsidize the new retail operation through the $25,000 per year salaries paid to the posties, as well as time spent by executives such as Warren, who earns , an estimated $119 per hour. — The subsidized postal premises were paid for by the Canadian public. Now these buildings are being used by Consumers Dis- tributing, at cut-rate costs, to compete with private sector firms that built retail businesses with no public support. In fact, unlike Can- ada Post, these retail firms are heavily taxed on their in- vestments. For Consumer Distribut- ing, of course, all this is one sweet deal. That company wins the advantage of using taxpayer financed buildings and employees to compete.. with ordinary retailers. This is not the first time Canada Post has intruded into the private sector. In an, earlier move, the giant Crown corporation incorpor- ated a system designed to create advertising competi- tion for the media, including weekly newspapers, again using subsidized postal workers to handle the job. Yet, while Warren is dir- ecting these unfair and ques- tionable forays into the pri- vate sector, Canada Post is losing $300 -million per year with a single letter rate of 32 . cents, while the United States system is profitable with a 25 -cent (Canadian) rate. Canada Post says its eight - location retail operation is a 90 -day experiment. That's good news. It means the posties can, and should, quietly close up retail shop at the end of the period and go back to running the basic de- livery service. Then tax- payers won't be unfairly subsidizing one retailer at the expense of another. Icy conditions increase the number of slipping and fall- ing injuries. Check walk- ways, stairs, ramps, loading docks and other places where slipping can be a threat. Are these facilities in good repair? Are they paint- ed or coated with non -slip material? Is there a supply of salt or sand available and is someone designated to spread it when needed? Take action to prevent injuries says the Industrial Accident Prevention Association. SHOPSYS VACUUM PACKED CORNED BEEF .BRISKET SCHNEIDES FRESH COUNTRY STYLE PORK SAUSAGE 8 /cg - 1,19 lb. 4.83/k9 2,191b. FINEST QUALITY PRIDE OF CANADA SLICED SIDE BACON 500 91 71 PKG. McGREGORS FROZEN BOXED MEATS SOLD BY THE CASE ONLY PRE -BROWNED BREADED 9OC PER SERVING CONTINENTAL STYLE 12 x 125 g VEAL CUTLETTES 1O.75 s 1.78 PER SERVING CARTON OF 9 - 170 g STRIPLOIN STEAKS 15.995 12 X 100 g PCS PRE -BROWNED BREADED 71C PSR SERVING CHICKEN CUTLETTES 8.5O„ "MACSTEAK BRAND" FLAKED & FORMED 58C PER SERVING BEEF STEAKS 20x75 g11.50„ BONELESS -NO WASTE STEWING BEEF 6 VARIETIES BUDDIGS SLICED PKGED 71 g SMOKED MEATS 4.37/k9 1.98 Ib. 78' SHOPSYS PURE 500g. PKG. BEEF SAUSAGE 2.49 BONELESS -CROSS CUT RIB ROAST OR STEAK DINNERGOLD ROUND 6/31/kg COOKED HAM HAM 2.89 1b 1 BAKED 3 4.391.99 SHOPSYS DEL 6 VARIETIES 99' /kg Ib Ir a� 5.49 /kg 2.49 Ib. THIS WEEK'S DELICATTESSEN SPECIALS BURNS .REGULAR SLICED COUNTRY GOLD SLICED 4 PKGS. OF SO 6 MEAT PIES 75 g N , RING SCHNEIDERS COTTON BAG SLICED SUMMER S�A CGME BURNS SWEET PICKLED UMx.69/kg •• 36 W COOKED OUTSIDE ROUND ROAST BEEF SLICED 1O•' 4.79 POLISH CORNED BEEF 2.29 SAUSAGE 2.6.91b SCHNEIDERS BOWLS REGULAR OR CHUNKY CORNMEALED HEAD CHEESE 375 g 1.881BACk BACON PIECEE 3.49ib. /kg Ib. POTATO, MACARONI, CREAMY COLESLAW SHOD -- ALADS I ,- Ib. 1 SUPER SPECIAL PRODUCT OF ISRAEL JAFFA ORANGES PRODUCT OF CALIFORNIA CANADA NO. 1 GRADE ROMAINE LETTUCE 79# A PRODUCT OF CALIFORNIA MILD TENDER GREEN ONIONS '/99' BUNCHES SUPE SPECIAL SUPER SPECIAL PROD. OF FRANCE - CAN. FANCY GRANNY SMITH APPLES f74/kg Ib. PRODUCT OF ONTARIO CANADA FANCY DELICIOUS APPLES a., 2.f9 VGREAT xASnLAD PRODUCT OFU.S.A. ZUCCHINI SQUASH I•9/g99e PROD. OF U.S.A. CAN. NO. 1 HEAD LETTUCE EA. PRODUCT OF CALIFORNIA FRESH TENDER CAULIFLOWER f•69HEAD PROD. OF FLA. CAN. N0: 1 GRADE VINE RIPENED TOMATOES 2.f8.9 99s SUPER SPECIAL FRESH -SNOWY WHITE ONTARIO MUSHROOMS 4.39/k9 • FINE FOR REPLANTING NO NAME BRAND POTTING SOIL 89° 10 Titre bag VEIVIMPRIES vsworasamonalizstsmasess PRODUCT OF CHILE CANADA NO. 1 GRADE RED EMPEROR GRAPES 3.26',kg t ZEHRS SAVEATAPE PLAN CAN ASSIST THEpORGANIZATION OF YOUR CHOICE