Canada Post shows Huge Surplus ($1,900,000,000)

[pierrelebel]

Canada Posts Final Figures Showing Budget Surplus of C$1.9 Bln 2014-15, compared With C$2.0 Bln Deficit projected in April

Now, this number was published by the federal government, in the middle of an election campaign. Is the number credible?

How could they forecast a two billion dollar deficit a few months ago and turn that around to a nearly two billion dollar surplus?

[sylviebee]

My mail carrier told me about this surplus about a month ago and he was already hinting that some of it should go to him and his co-workers.

Go figure!

[dutchman48]

Are we going to get refunds for all the excessive postage we have paid?

Are we now going to get tracking for the same price as in the US?

[tobyshitzu]

This is supposed to say 

*Canada* posts huge surplus or *Canada* shows huge surplus

not

*Canada Post* shows huge surplus

Great job by the CPC team!

[rose-dee]

Yes, 'toby' is right.  The announcement has no connection with Canada Post (well not directly at least).  Someone didn't know how to write a clear headline. 

Here's the gist of the report (from the Globe & Mail): 

"The Conservative government posted a surplus for the first time since diving into deficit in response to the 2008 economic crisis, ending a string of six consecutive deficits and providing the governing party with some good news ahead of Thursday’s debate on the economy."

The link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/surprise-surplus-good-news-for-tories-ahead-of-economic...

You have to wonder if there were some talented chefs cooking the books on this one.

Hmm... on the other hand... speaking of gaffes... maybe the money is coming from Canadians' generous donations to the economy -- "Protect our Economy, Donate Today!  I actually laughed out loud when I saw this gaffe on the Conservative Party website.  Honestly folks, I'm not making this up, go the CPC's home page and see for yourself.  Somebody in Harper's entourage needs to stand back and take a good look at this page!    (I'll likely get this post kicked off this board for irrelevance, but have a smile anyway in the meantime). 

[pierrelebel]

"Someone didn't know how to write a clear headline. "

You are correct.  My mistake.

[rose-dee]

No, no, Pierre, you read it the way most of us would -- somebody who wrote the headline did not make the meaning clear and you interpreted it in a very understandable way. 

Did you get the headline from a newspaper or online?  Either way, I think a lot of people in the media are getting very over-excited about getting any snippet of news out that may affect the upcoming debate and election, and not necessarily paying attention to proper editing. 

[rose-dee]

Now here's thought connected with this announcement, if anybody happens to have the ear of one of the 3 main party leaders to pass it along (hahaha).  

All 3 parties are talking incessantly about job creation.  How about job retention?  I wonder how many thousands of Canadians sell on eBay?  How many of those depend, at least in part, on eBay sales to meet their monthly living expenses?  Probably a good percentage.  I know I do.  

Why not allocate a chunk of that $1.9 billion to Canada Post to enable it to provide tracking on the most efficient and economical services we have to our main customer (the U.S.), i.e. on Light and Small Packet Air?  

They might be able to save a few thousand (self-employed) jobs and boost Canada Post's revenue in the same stroke, given eBay's recent policy change on shipping delivery time.