‘Canada Post does not provide free shipping,’ corporation says of closed Amazon loophole
Following criticisms last week from MLAs, Canada Post is reminding Nunavut residents to make sure they are using the correct mailing address when shipping parcels north.
Some MLAs spoke in the legislative assembly about how Canada Post’s recent closure of a loophole — where residents could get free or cheaper shipping from retailers such as Amazon by inputting an incorrect postal code on their order — has been impacting constituents.
In a member’s statement, Quttiktuq MLA David Akeeagok said the move has “negatively affected” his constituents in Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay and Arctic Bay.
He encouraged them to contact Canada Post and the federal government to call for cheaper shipping.
“I will do my part by writing letters also,” Akeeagok said May 27.
Finance Minister Lorne Kusugak, who represents Rankin Inlet South, also lambasted the mail carrier in his May 30 member’s statement, saying “truckloads” of parcels in Rankin Inlet, such as baby food and diapers, are being returned south.
“It’s time that Canada Post begin to take a look at what they are doing; they are hurting our people in Nunavut,” Kusugak said.
“I encourage Nunavummiut to write their member of Parliament, write the federal minister responsible, so that people can at least begin to afford some of the things we can’t buy in the North.”
Kusugak also asked that residents not take out their frustrations on local Canada Post staff.
“It’s not their fault, it’s the fault of the management of Canada Post down south,” he said.
Canada Post moves mail on close to 280 flights per week in northern and remote communities, said spokesperson Valérie Chartrand in an email.
She said that when mail is not properly addressed, employees are left to manually correct the shipping address, which slows down the process for everyone.
“A good delivery experience begins and ends with a correct address,” Chartrand said.
“We have asked customers in Nunavut to ensure they are using the correct address going forward or the items will be returned to [the] sender.”
She said it’s “longstanding” Canada Post policy to return parcels that have an incorrect address.
As for shipping costs, Chartrand said everybody who sends anything through Canada Post has to pay, and online retailers can decide what costs they will pass down to their customers.
“As a Crown corporation that must survive based on the revenues we generate, Canada Post does not provide free shipping to any customers,” Chartrand said.
Jeff Pelletier, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunatsiaq News
