I started working for Canada Post on Monday, April 3rd, 1989.
In my initial meetings with Ron Keating, I learned that the number one guy for the Information Technology Division was hired recently from Nortel. His name was Ken. Ron worked for Ken in a different capacity at Nortel for years and they seemed to have a good working relationship.
The new organization included several directors reporting to Ken in various capacities: systems, computer operations, strategic planning, etc.
Background on Canada Post: on 14 April 1981, the Canada Post Corporation Act transforming the Post Office Department into a Crown corporation was passed in the House of Commons.
This radical transformation of the postal administration was the consequence of constant deterioration in the quality of postal service in the preceding decades. Among the factors that contributed to this deterioration were serious disputes between the Post Office Department and its employees, resulting in repeated strikes paralyzing the postal services.
In a context favourable to the organization of public servants in the 1970s, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers fought for better working conditions in an environment disrupted by the mechanization and automation of the mail. The demands of the workers, a serious annual deficit that hit $600 million in 1981, and an increasingly competitive market were all factors that complicated management of the Post Office Department. The Post Office had to adapt to the market of the 1980s.
The primary goal of the new postal administration was to grant the Post Office the autonomy it needed to develop commercial objectives. This would allow it to finance its services in Canada, and to improve service and labour relations. The franchising of postal outlets, privatization of other services, raising of postal rates, closing of post offices (especially in rural areas), use and development of technology, and finally control of new markets (for example, through the acquisition of Purolator in 1993) were some of the changes that made it possible to meet these new commercial objectives. As a result, in 1989, Canada Post recorded its first profits since 1957, an estimated $96 million for sales in excess of $3 billion.
Implementation of the many reforms at Canada Post has not been an entirely smooth process. Today, however, the Corporation serves over 30 million Canadians and nearly a million public organizations and agencies. It also has over 20,000 points of sale to meet the needs of its clientele. What is more, Canada Post has entered the world market for postal management with the creation of “Canada Post International Ltd.,” which offers solutions in management, technology development, product and service marketing, and so on. In this way Canada Post is putting to good use the experience it has acquired through the process of becoming cost-effective, the challenge that it set itself in 1981.
Nevertheless, looking at the current financial status of Canada Post, it appears as none of those goals which were attempted to set in1981 with the focus to becoming cost-effective in order to maximize the profit didn’t work as:
- In the third quarter of 2024, Canada Post reported a loss of $315 million before tax; and
- This was a larger loss than the $290 million loss in the same period in 2023.
The loss was due to a number of factors, including a decline in parcel revenue and volumes, and a strike by its workers. (Source: CBC News app).
Ron had hired another senior consultant before me and his name was Bob. He was assigned to do something different.
There was a group of employees who were attached to the directorate but they were “floating” as they didn’t know what to do and Ron was too busy politicking at his level.
I remember the next day I went to see Ron. I suggested I should go around and interview the directors to get their perception about what Ron was supposed to be responsible for. Ron said it was an excellent idea. It might work very well in other organizations, but Canada Post is going through a transition and senior management is totally engaged in politicking; so your idea wouldn’t work here. He said you don’t want to kick the sleeping dogs, do you, Mir. He asked me do you know what those would do.
I said they would start barking. He said you got the right idea my friend.
I said can I ask you another question, Ron. He said shoot.
I said if you were not ready to start working on any specific project, why did you bother hiring me?
He said I was so impressed with your qualifications, the like of which I don’t come across every week. I didn’t want to miss the chance to hire you. He also said it’s going to take a little while to get it going, but while waiting you can spend some time with the people who are knowledgeable about our business.
I felt guilty for making the highest per diem I ever made just to go around and chitchat with folks. However, I wasn’t going to disagree with Ron as I needed the contract.
At the same time I was finding it difficult to go to my office in Kanata and be productive after working eight hours at Canada Post.
David and Mike were delighted that I was making good money but they were concerned about how I was going to be able to do both jobs. I wanted to discuss this when I was in Fredericton for the company picnic.
I took off early on Friday April 21st to go to the airport. David came to pick me up in Fredericton. He said I could stay at his house; he had a spare bedroom for me. I said I would prefer that as we need to talk about several things.
We had a wonderful time at the picnic. I knew some of the folks from my previous stint in Fredericton and I managed to find time to chitchat with other employees. The company appeared to be doing alright. I had an opportunity to talk to David and Mike about the situation in Ottawa. They were very happy that I was making money, but they had no idea how I was going to promote the business there. I could have considered dedicating my weekends in addition to spending time in my office after working with Canada Post, but I would not be able to make telephone calls or visit.
I thought I should let it go for a while. I might have to decide whether I wanted to continue in this difficult situation.
I found time to give Gord a call on Sunday afternoon. As soon as he heard my voice he shouted, Mir, where are you?
I said would you believe that I am right here in Fredericton.
He said how the hell I didn’t know about that.
I said I apologize, Gord. Then I explained the situation to him.
We chatted for at least 15 minutes. Then he said you better come here for supper. Pat is making spaghetti and she would be delighted to have you over. Plus, he continued, if you didn’t come, the girls would be disappointed.
I said nothing stops me from coming there and spending some time this evening, Gord.
I ended up spending three hours with Gord and his family. I didn’t have to rush simply because my flight to Ottawa was first thing in the morning on Monday.
I had a wonderful time. Good old Gord, he never changes. He was the same Gord I met for the first time in 1974 when he interviewed me for a job.
I enjoyed chatting with the girls. Pat seemed to be very polite to me. She was just listening to our conversations as Gord was a little excited and she must have been wondering about me. However, Gord said Mir, don’t you remember you met Pat when you were here when Margret passed away?
I said, yes, I remember it very well.
Once we were done, Gord brought me to David’s.
Before he left he said I guess Lynda is still mad at me.
I said not at all, Gord.
He said I hope you both understand that I needed somebody to help me with the girls even when Margret was going through chemotherapy.
I said I will get Lynda to call you and talk to the girls, soon.
David was waiting for me to chat. He wanted to know if Gord offered me a job.
I told David that I am always grateful to Gord, but he knew that coming back to Fredericton was not in the stars for us.
I asked David if I could use his phone to call Lynda. He brought his phone to me and left the room so that I could have some privacy.
Lynda answered the phone right away as she was waiting for my call.
She asked me how it went.
I said the picnic was just great.
She said I am not asking about the picnic, I am asking about Gord and the girls.
I said how the hell you knew that I went to see them.
She said do you think I am that stupid?
I said do I have to answer that question?
She said you better not, if you want to come home next weekend.
I said I had nice time with the Scotts. I was there three hours.
How are the girls doing?
I said they are doing very well in school. They told me what subjects they were taking.
She asked how about his lady friend?
I said you need to calm down, babe. Pat is doing very well with the family and it is not our business to keep criticizing.
She said I guess you’re right.
I said here’s their telephone number. I want you to call them next week late in the evening to chat with the girls, but please do not ignore Gord. Gord was asking if you were still mad at him.
She said alright. I will give them a call on Monday.
