In addition to having our CPAA voices heard, we are providing a template for the residents of your community and members of the general public to also join in our letter writing campaign. Feel free to share this with them!
How to find your MP:
To identify your MP and the name of your riding (also called “constituency” or “electoral district”), have your postal code ready and visit: https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en.
Once you find your MP, click their profile and select the “Contact” button to see their email address and office information. If you prefer to send physical mail, you can address it to either their constituency office or their Ottawa office.
When you’re ready, just copy and paste the information into this Community-Letter template and send!
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Preview of the letter…
Protecting Postal Services in [Insert Your Community Name]
Dear MP [Insert Last Name],
I am writing to you as a resident of [insert your town/community] to express my concern about the federal government’s recent announcement regarding the potential closure of rural post offices.
Our local post office is more than just a place to pick up mail, it’s a vital service that connects people, businesses, and government. In rural and remote areas, post offices help residents access medications, government correspondence, and essential goods, keeping our communities socially and economically connected. The closure of these offices would have serious consequences for many people who rely on them every day.
In our case, the [insert name of post office] serves a community that is [select as applicable: located on an island / more than 20 km from the next closest full-service post office]. Losing this location would significantly impact access to critical services for residents who already face barriers due to geography and infrastructure.
To date, there has been no public costing or impact analysis shared to justify the decision to close rural post offices. The real cost would be the loss of accessibility, connection, and in some cases, local livelihoods, a cost that communities like ours cannot afford to bear.
There has also been no meaningful consultation with the public, meaning the voices of Canadians in rural and remote regions are being left out of key decisions that affect them most.
I am asking you, as my Member of Parliament, to advocate for the following:
- A transparent public consultation before any closures, including an assessment of impacts on seniors, low-income residents, and rural, remote, and Indigenous communities where postal services are essential for daily life;
- An extension of the government’s proposed 45-day timeline for lifting the moratorium on closures to at least 100 days, ensuring that meaningful consultation can take place and that the current moratorium remains in effect during that period;
- A guaranteed minimum level of postal service for all rural and remote areas, covering hours, parcel services, and financial transactions, and the use of alternatives such as community hubs or mobile units where necessary;
- Protection for local postal workers’ jobs, recognizing the critical role they play in sustaining community access and connection.
As your constituent, I urge you to ensure that rural Canadians’ voices are heard and that essential postal services remain accessible in [insert your community’s name].
Thank you for your attention to this issue. I would appreciate hearing your position and the steps you will take to help protect postal services for our community.
