The Postpar letter service was introduced in September 1987, a year in which labour disputes between postal workers and the Government resulted in two major disruptions of mail service. In June and July, members of the Letter Carriers' Union staged a 19-day strike. In the fall. the Canadian Union of Postal Workers organized rotating strikes from region to region, but the Montreal workers staged a general walkout.
Area Serviced
Postpar serviced the business community delivering letters to other businesses and to residential addresses. offering a letter service within the area encompassed by the following postal codes:
- all of "H"
- J3Y and J3Z
- all of J4
- J5R
Rates
Postpar letter rates were cheaper than those charged by Canada Post.
Maximum Dimensions for letters
Length.........40cm
Width...........30cm
Thickness......2cm
Stamps
In October, 1987, Postpar issued three postage stamps, 30c, 50c, and $1.00
Laval to Hydro-Quebec, Montreal, June 11, 1988
April 18, 1988
Returned Mail
Thousands of Postpar letters delivered to the wrong addresses were dropped in Canada Post mail boxes for return by persons believing that the letters had been delivered by Canada Post. Canada Post was required by regulation to return these letters. By April, 1988, Canada Post had to handle 27,000 pieces of returned Postpar letters without postage, an effort which required the full-time service of two persons.
Canada Post advised Postpar that it should provide guaranteed return delivery, in response to which Postpar prepared markings providing telephone numbers to be called if the addressee had moved.
Guaranteed Return Delivery
If Moved Call 629-3656
Postpar Letter Redirected by Canada Post
The addressee had moved and the Postpar letter below was put in the Canada Post mail stream.
July 27, 1988
Canada Post did not simply return the letter to the sender but forwarded it to the addressee at his new address.
Canada Post Change of Address Label
Canada Post enclosed the following letter in returned Postpar mail:
Permanent InjunctionDear Sir:Recently the enclosed article was found in our mail stream. Because it did not bear Canada Post Corporation postage, our regulations require us to return it to you,Several thousand similar items have been found in our system during the last few weeks and we have been diligently returning them to sender.Please be assured that it will be a pleasure to handle all of your mailings which carry the proper postage.We look forward to serving you in the future.
On September 8, 1988, Canada Post succeeded in obtaining a permanent injunction against the operations of Postpar Inc. from violating the exclusive privilege conferred upon Canada Post Corporation of collecting, transmitting, and delivering letters within Canada.
Postpar Inc. complied with the injunction, but in its brief history is believed to have delivered millions of letters in the Montreal area.
