MAIL: A Question

[dewline]

Why was Canada Post changed from a federal department to a Crown corporation in the first place?

Yes, I can read the official story at their website, or assorted other POVs elsewhere on- or offline. And probably will soon enough. But - inspired by the unholy mess now in progress in the States, of course - I am again somewhat skeptical about the reasoning.

Your thoughts, please?

Comments

[amaebi]

IIRC that occurred under Mulroney? In which case, Reagan-emulation.

[jsburbidge]

1981, well before Mulroney, though not before Reagan.

My general recollection is that that sort of conversion of government bodies which provided services into Crown Corporations was generally in the air then. There were also attempts to deal with the continuing labour problems at the post office, which may have influenced the decision.

[amaebi]

I call Goodie Thatcher, then.

[dewline]

jsburbidge: 1981. Okay. So that means Trudeau the Elder's crew had that idea. So we can't exactly blame "neoliberalism" as the motive here. The idea that Canada Post should try to turn a profit, though, ought to be consigned to the history books as a Bad Idea, whoever came up with it.

ameebi: Yeah, those three - Reagan, Thatcher, Mulroney - were thick as thieves on many issues back then.