Canada Post President and CEO Doug Ettinger told a House of Commons committee that the Crown corporation needs to rebuild trust after hundreds of days of labour disruptions led small businesses to turn to private parcel delivery services.
Apology and Commitment to Small Businesses
“I want to apologize to Canadians, I want to apologize to small businesses for the tough time over the last two years,” Ettinger said at the committee meeting on June 18. “They took it hard and we owe them and we need to earn back their trust,” he added.
Strategic Pricing to Attract Customers
Ettinger announced that Canada Post plans to introduce “strategic pricing” to boost its parcel business and bring back customers lost during labour disruptions. “We’re going to go out there and try to retain customers that left us during the labor disruption period, get them back with better service,” he stated.
Collective Agreements Provide Stability
Ettinger pointed to collective agreements signed with the urban and rural units of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) as key to creating stability. These agreements, reached after two years of bargaining and several weeks of nationwide strikes, will last for five years and include concessions on part-time weekend work, a contentious issue during negotiations.
Innovations and Services for Small Businesses
Canada Post is considering innovations such as strategic pricing, an online marketplace with low fees for small businesses, and a home pick-up service for parcel returns. “We want to partner with small business. That’s our sweet spot,” Ettinger said. He also mentioned that “a lot of announcements” are expected this fall, with “real customer innovations” to make it easier for small businesses to work with Canada Post.
Financial Challenges and Restructuring
The corporation has faced financial struggles, including a $1.57-billion deficit in 2025 and a $205-million loss before tax in the first quarter of 2026. Canada Post is undergoing restructuring, ending door-to-door delivery in favor of community mailboxes and cutting management and executive positions. The labour force is also set for renewal, with up to 30,000 workers eligible for retirement in the next 10 years. Ettinger said Canada Post would “leverage attrition” to reduce its workforce and aims to “break even over the next five years.”
