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Belgian Prince Wants Bearded Look On Stamp Belgium’s Crown Prince Philippe, who celebrated his 50th birthday on Thursday, has insisted a commemorative stamp represents him with his recently acquired beard, the post office magazine reported. The Son of King Albert II has sported the facial hair since last year, and will b represented “with beard at his express request,” according to the monthly Philanews, a publication for stamp collectors. Philippe Leopold Louis Marie, Duke of Brabant, was born on April 15, 1960. Prince Philippe – who married in 1999 – now has four children. Prince Philippe has regularly faced criticism for some gaffes and a perceived authoritarian tendency. However, his supporters say his performance can be put down to his natural shyness, not an authoritarian attitude.
From the Calgary Herald Friday, April 16, 2010 Page A2 – News Makers |
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HONOURING A CARING CANADIAN
Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean reveals a stamp featuring former governor general Romeo LeBlanc at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday. LeBlanc was governor general from 1995 to 1999 and died June 24, 2009. He was first to open Rideau Hall, the governor general's official residence, to the public, and he initiated the Caring Canadian Award program. From the Calgary Herald Saturday February 6, 2010 Page A6 - Canada |
Nickel-And-Dimed By Canada Post
Talk about lousy timing. On Jan. 11, with the economy just starting to emerge from the shadow of the worst recession in a generation, Canada Post hit Canadians with the largest postage price hike in the Crown Corporation’s 134 year history. Unfortunately, those who can afford it the least, like many small businesses and entrepreneurs, are the ones taking it on the chin. The jump was just the first in a series of planned increases that will see the price of a basic stamp go up by 11 cents over the next five years, or approximately twice the amount allowed under current regulations, based on projected rates of inflation. Prices for heavier envelopes and international packages will go up by as much as 40 cents, while the cost of sending registered mail inside Canada will see a 45 cent increase. Canada Post is also dividing the 200 to 500 gram class of parcels into several new 100 gram revenue generating subcategories. Many people might shrug and say: Yeah, so what? Who cares? In one way, they're right. For the average person, paying a few more cents to mail an occasional letter doesn't matter much. The Internet, e-mail, and online networks like Facebook have almost completely displaced writing letters and snail mail as a way of staying connected with family and friends. But it's a completely different story for many small businesses. The Internet age has heralded an explosion in online sales, making mailing and shipping a major cost for a growing number of businesses. Thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises rely on Canada Post to help them compete in local, national and global markets. Any increase in postage and shipping costs spells real hardship for many of those businesses already feeling their ultrathin margins squeezed even thinner by the recession. Make no mistake — those nickels and dimes add up quick. Over the next five years, the proposed price increase will cost people and businesses across the country more than $450 million. In reality, however, small and medium-sized businesses will be hit the hardest, since larger companies qualify for special rates not accessible to smaller firms. The proposed price increases are simply not warranted. Canada Post blames the price hikes on falling mail volumes combined with the addition of 200,000 new addresses it has to service each year. Yet, new residential deliveries have been frozen for years, with all new addresses being served by centralized mail-boxes that are much cheaper for Canada Post to use and service. In fact, about two-thirds of all current residential addresses do not receive door-to-door mail delivery. Similarly, Canada Post's argument that higher transportation costs are also driving the price increases is a bit misleading, too. The Crown corporation already applies a fuel surcharge to all parcel shipments, be it express, non-express or priority worldwide packages. With fuel prices having dropped and stabilized as of late, will Canada Post now commit to removing this surcharge? Not bloody likely. And the same game would likely apply to this latest slate of postage price increases. What is really driving Canada Post's thirst for new revenue are labour costs that have been rising far above both inflation and the average increases in the private sector. In fact, according to the CFIB's research, wages for Canada Post's back-office staff are 17 per cent higher, and more than 40 per cent higher for both wages and benefits, than private-sector employees in similar positions. At a minimum, before agreeing to any further price hikes, the federal government should require Canada Post to deliver on three things: re-examine its proposed rate increases, find ways to better control its labour costs, and consult widely about any future price hikes. Only then can the impact of nickel-and-diming recession-weary small businesses through higher postage rates be properly measured and fully understood.
RICHARD TRUSCOTT IS THE ALBERTA DIRECTOR OF THE CANADIAN FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS. RICHARD.TRUSCOTT@CFIB.CA
From the Calgary Herald Wednesday, January 20, 2010 Page A12 – The Editorial Page |
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