Canada Post to deliver new flyer to Montrealers despite city ban on unsolicited mail

Montrealers will see a new version of Publisac arriving in their mailboxes this week, in spite of a new city bylaw to eliminateunsolicited flyers that was to take effect Wednesday.

The weeklyplastic bag stuffed withcirculars, coupons and local newspapers dubbed Publisac in Quebec wasset to be banned in Montreal's 19 boroughs, deliverable only to residents who requested itvia a sticker on their door or mailbox.

Canada Post will be delivering anew flyer, calledRaddar, to households in Montreal, while people living in other municipalities on the island will continue to receive aPublisac.

Patrick Brayley,asenior vice-president ofTC Transcontinental, the publisher of Publisac, said told CBC Montreal'sDaybreakthe company decided to circumvent the ban due to"very strong demand" from itsretail partners and consumers looking for discount savings.

According to Brayley, the new leaflet uses 60 per cent less paper and noplastic, and anyone who wishes to opt out of receiving Raddarmay do so by contactingCanada Post.

Montreal mayor disappointed

"Montrealers have said, clear and loud, we don't want that type of system," said Montreal Mayor Valrie Plante. "The city of Montreal makes big decisions to plant trees and do so many things, but Canada Post doesn't care and doesn't respect our bylaw."

The mayor hascalled on federal members of Parliament forMontreal ridings to step in to address the issue with Canada Post. However, a spokesperson for the minister of public services and procurement told CBCthat as an independent Crown corporation, Canada Post operates at arm's length from the government.

In a statement, Canada Post said it does not make judgments on the value of the mail it's paid to deliver, andTC Transcontinental's leaflet meets Canada Post's requirements.

Postal workers in 'catch-22'

The situation puts postal workers in an uncomfortable position, "caught ina fight between two Titans," said Yannick Scott,the national director for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers who represents greater Montreal. .

"We're caught in a catch-22 situation where, if our letter carriers are delivering, they might be fined by the city up to $1,000 for doing their job. On the other hand, if they aren't delivering where they're supposed to, the corporation might discipline or even suspend our members," Scott toldDaybreak.

Scott said postal workers will likely receive the brunt of complaints from citizens frustrated about receiving mail they don't want, andadding a new flyer to delivery routesmay result in many having to doforced overtime.

What are people in Montreal saying?

Daybreak went to the Montreal borough of LaSalle to see where Montrealers stand.

Michael Peart said getting rid of doorstep delivery of flyers makes sense overall, even if people who depend on the flyersto find discounts have a harder time getting that information.

"I think the city is trying to do something that's good for the environment." said Peart. He saidmany people end up throwing their flyers inthe garbage.

"Everything is online now. I think it's a waste of paper, to be honest."

But Melissa Low said she isn't ready to part with her flyers.

"I like paper. I like to be able to read and to see. Online ...it's not as tangible."