Postal workers demonstrate in front of Transport Minister Lisa Raitt's Milton, Ont., Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013. CUPW delivered thousands of postcards to Raitt from Canadians who are angry that Canada Post is closing and downsizing public post offices. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
December 18, 2013 - 8:23 AM
OTTAWA - The head of Canada Post will make his first public comments today about the Crown corporation's plans to raise postal rates and cut service.
Deepak Chopra is among the witnesses expected to appear at a special Commons committee studying the proposals.
Canada Post announced last week that it plans to phase out door-to-door mail delivery in urban centres.
Instead, mail would be delivered to communal neighbourhood "superboxes.''
The government hopes to limit today's study of the changes to just three hours.
The Conservatives have invited a number of people to speak at the meeting, including Chopra, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, the Conference Board of Canada, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Council of Canadians with Disabilities.
The list of potential participants also includes the CD Howe Institute, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and Robert Campbell from Mount Allison University.
The New Democrats say they want to hear from the transport minister, as well as small business, charity and seniors groups, among others.
And they say three hours is not enough time to study how the major service cuts and higher postage rates will affect mail delivery.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013