'Stop with the nonsense': Montreal and Canada Post spar over Publisacs
The City of Montreal and Canada Post are facing off over Publisacs, as the postal service has no plans to halt delivery even though City Hall banned the distribution starting next spring.
"We ask Canada Post to stop with the nonsense," said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante Thursday.
The mayor tried to convince the postal service to reverse course with a show-and-tell in Cote-des-Neiges-NDG, holding a news conference in front of 16 tons of paper — the amount of unwanted flyers she says are thrown away every week in the borough.
"Our request today is to tell Canada Post and the federal government to listen to what Montrealers want. They want to stop with the waste," said Plante.
According to the city, 80 per cent of residents toss Publisacs in the bin.
"We have to reach a goal of 75 per cent of recycling," said Massimo Iezzoni, director of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM), a planning, coordination and financing body representing the metropolis. "We’re actually at 57 per cent. So anything that can give us a gain in recycling, we have to do."
The bylaw banning the distribution takes effect in May 2023. Montrealers who still want them delivered can opt in and continue to receive the flyers in the mail.
Transcontinental, the company behind Publisacs, turned to Canada Post to distribute the flyers because Crown corporations are not bound by municipal regulations.
Canada Post did not respond to CTV News’ request for comment, but in a previous statement, it said it’s obligated to deliver all mail.
"It is our long-standing mandated responsibility, which means we are not in a position to pick and choose what mail is delivered," the company said previously.
Mayor Plante, however, disagreed.
"We went through the law and actually, it’s not true. If there is no address on the Publisac you don’t have to do it,” said the mayor.
Plante is not ruling out taking Canada Post to court.
"We will continue to fight," she said. "I can assure you of that."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cyclist issued fine for striking four-year-old girl crossing the street
A cyclist turned herself in and received a fine after striking a four-year-old girl who was crossing the street to catch a school bus.
Millions of Canadians have been exposed to potentially toxic chemicals, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
IN PHOTOS Northern lights dance across the night sky in southern Ont.
From London, to Mildmay, Collingwood and St. Thomas, here are some highlights of Friday night and Saturday morning's northern lights display.
Dutch contestant kicked out of Eurovision hours before tension-plagued song contest final
The Netherlands' contestant in the Eurovision Song Contest was dramatically expelled from competition hours before Saturday's final of the pan-continental pop competition, which has been rattled by protests over the participation of Israel.
Joe Biden wants to remind 2024 voters of a record and an agenda. Often it's Donald Trump's
Biden wants the 2024 election to be a referendum on Trump's record and plans, but he also wants voters to look favourably on his own policies and actions
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
Here's what 'the hinge' move is, how to do it correctly
When you're picking something up from the floor or bending over to tie your shoe laces, you're performing "the hinge move," according to movement trainers.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.