Letter carrier Stu McFarlane gets a look at a mailbox from the inside on Fri., Nov. 16, 2001.Michael Lea/The Canadian Press
In a more perfect world, we would only get the junk mail we wanted. That take-out menu from the new Chinese dumpling restaurant would supply a delicious dinner on demand, the half-price sale on Italian shirts could give us the sophisticated Tuscany-casual look we always longed for, and even the aluminum-siding offer might catch us at the exact moment of vulnerability when we wanted to entrust our facade's aesthetics to someone who sends out mass flyers via Canada Post.
But realistically and regretfully, we can't pick and choose. Either we enforce a blanket prohibition with one of those cute kid-made signs that politely discourages the delivery of flyers, or we leave ourselves open to the possibility that what comes through the mail slot unasked will be an imperfect match for our needs and tastes.
It's easy enough, if marginally annoying, to sort through the mail and toss the unwanted and unbelievable gym promotions into the recycling bin. But when we peer into an envelope and discover a graphic anti-abortion flyer that attacks Justin Trudeau alongside disturbing photos of aborted fetuses, the emotional and political engagement with junk mail becomes much more intense.
An anti-abortion group called the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform contracted Canada Post to deliver the flyer that targets the pro-choice Liberal leader. Householders on the receiving end have complained, and so have letter carriers who say they're offended by the content.
The objections are understandable. Canada Post, a public monopoly, enjoys privileged access to our homes, and it risks damaging that relationship by pushing material many people don't want.
Maybe Canada Post shouldn't deliver flyers at all – the burden on our recycling bins, at least, would be much lighter. But since it does, then it's appropriate that, as an impartial public service, the post office doesn't take on the role of censor. Laws exist to limit hate speech, and Canada Post must abide by them. Otherwise it should be free to act as an intermediary for groups of every kind that want to get their ideas across – both those we like and those we want nothing to do with.