By Nova Pierson
Hail, sleet and snow can't stop the controversy over Canada Post's entry into local rush courier services from landing on Calgary's doorstep.
Courier companies across the country have joined together to form a coalition against Canada Post's half-purchase of Montreal-based Intelcom Courier, which has recently purchased Calgary's DW Personal Courier.
Jack Hansen, who runs the Toronto office of QA Courier and started the alliance's www.localrush.com website, said competing courier companies have come together as "strange bedfellows," against what they call unfair practices. "We've competed with each other for decades -- what I don't like is competing with the government," said Hansen.
The 50% interest in Intelcom put Canada Post in the local rush courier business first in Toronto and Montreal, said Hansen, who claims the company charges less than other companies -- and less than Canada Post's own laws.
But that's not the case, said Teresa Williams, spokeswoman for Canada Post, explaining prices are market-driven.
"We are competing head to head with other courier companies," said Williams, noting they've done the same thing with their Purolator Courier brand.
But Tammy Holowachuk, one of the owners of Calgary's Fireball Express courier, said business has slowed, affecting drivers and bikers who are on commission.
"Canada Post has an exclusive privilege -- it's not really a free market as far as I'm concerned," she said.