Canada Post’s Rising Debt Load

In early 2007, Canada Post was debt free and had a maximum availability of $300 million in external borrowing. In 2010, Canada Post had a $3.2 billion pension shortfall along with a potential debt load of $3.9 billion dollars in external borrowing – a startling change.

Canada Post has went from debt-free four years ago, to a potential $7.1 billion in debt, or if the funds not fully utilized, around $5 billion. Canada Post may not have borrowed all this money or perhaps used some of this capital to pay-off the pension which may make it less than $7.1 billion.

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A Former CEO on Canada Post’s Modernization

Michael Warren, a former CEO of Canada Post from 1981-1985, has given a critical analysis of the present Canada Post Modernization program.

In a Toronto Star article, The Future of Canada Post,he argues that there are serious inherent problems with the plan, “the larger concern is that Canadian taxpayers are being asked to guarantee a multi-billion-dollar investment in a process that lacks a clear, long-term business plan.

If these billions are simply intended to speed up the processing of hard-copy letter mail to add some efficiency to today’s unsustainable postal business model, then they will be wasted. This money will also be wasted if the government allows Canada Post to indulge in its costly vision of a separate e-post electronic service when the Internet is readily available.”