Minister to meet with federal minister responsible for Canada Post

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Walter Noel will meet today with Alfonso Gagliano, the federal minister responsible for Canada Post Corporation, to discuss the corporation�s increase in postal rates in northern communities.

Accompanying Minister Noel to the Ottawa meeting will be Labrador MHAs Ernest McLean, Yvonne Jones and Wally Andersen. All share a common concern that the increase in postal rates unfairly targets northern, aboriginal communities, not only in Newfoundland and Labrador but in northern regions across Canada.

Also joining Minister Noel at the meeting will be Labrador MP Lawrence O�Brien, as well as a number of other northern Canadian MPs.

"In this province, the exorbitant increase in postal rates has impacted the residents of coastal Labrador the hardest," said Minister Noel. "The cost of using the postal service has become unaffordable for these residents, and I and my colleagues will be asking Minister Gagliano to intervene in this matter and reverse this unfair pricing scheme. "

"The public expects Canada Post to provide universal and affordable services," noted Minister Noel. "This expectation is not being met to the detriment of those people who live in our remote, northern communities. In fact, the rate hike has added tremendously to the high cost of living northern residents already bear."

Media Contact: Lynn Barter, Communications, (709) 729-0084.

2000 02 15                                                 10:10 a.m.