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PAGE 24 â€" WATERLOO CHRONICLE, Canada‘s rural communities are vital to Canada Post. In fact, one of the most important parts of our commitment is making postal products and services more accessible to rural Canadians. To help us do this, we plan to use the resources and the expertise of the private sector. Where practical, we are approaching local business people in communities across the country offering them the opportunity to provide you with postal products and services through their businesses. As a result, you will be able to buy postal products or services in attractive locations at convenient hours, often including evenings and weekends. Keeping our commitment in rural Canada Cemin groups see our changes as an erosion of postal serâ€" vices in rural communities such as yours. Nothing could be further from the truth. By allowing local merchants to operate retail postal outlets, postal services as a whole will be more accessible â€" and more efficient â€" than ever before. In the long run it will help us keep postal rates reasonable and leave the way clear for Canada Post to preserve their presence in rural Canada. ConsultafiOn For a start, we will engage in at least a 90â€"day consultation period involving all of our customers in your community, including your municipal authorities. JObS Changes are being made when natural opportunities occur, such as when a postmaster resigns, retires or is proâ€" moted. No postmaster has lost a job as a result of this program. Identlty The postal identity and name of your community will be preserved intact on signage and for addressing f purposes. Securlty Retail outlets will be bound by contract to maintain the same security and sanctity of mail standards as Canada Post. Commitment, SErVICE More and more, retail postal outlets will be operated by local business people who already have strong roots in your community and share with you the same interest in maintaining high postal standards, and where possible, improving them. Local delivery service will be maintained. > _ the more you‘ll agree _ â€" Nothing to lose â€" Canada Post is in rural Canada to stay. ' That‘s a promise. AY JUNE 8, CANADA POST CORPORATION Our commitment: better service for you. Real benefits for everyone Simply stated, by using retail merchants to sell stamps and other postal products and services, Canada Post can concenâ€" trate on what it does best: pickingâ€"up, processing and deliverâ€" ing the mail in a costâ€"effective way that benefits all Canadians, rural and urban alike. More outlets the objective is to increase the number of rural locations where you can access postal products or serâ€" vices from 5,000 to 7,000 and nationally by a third to 18,000 More convenience Rewail postal outlets will be conveâ€" niently located in a business close to other services in your community. Longer business hours will give you even more flexibility. More business for local merchants Opportunities for local merchants to provide postal products or services will strengthen the community‘s business base. More efl?aent SerVIcE By utilizing local merchants‘ retail experience, Canada Post will be able to concentrate on reliable pickâ€"up, processing and delivery of mail to Canadians â€" Everything to gain â€"