Who's right?

Mail delivery services to isolated communities William's Harbour and Black Tickle may hit a rough patch after Oct. 31, when the contract between Air Labrador and Canada Post ends.

"We have no intentions of rebidding, and they will have a problem on Nov. 1, unless they can find an operator willing to fly mail into Black Tickle and William's Harbour," said Philip Earle, vice-president and chief operating officer of Air Labrador.

"It's a very difficult contract to do," he added.

On Aug. 27, Canada Post sent out a Request for Proposal (RFP) in hopes to secure another contract for air delivery to these communities.

"At present, Canada Post has an RFP out, because our contract ends at the end of October," Mr. Earle said. "We have no intentions of bidding that RFP, and that will definitely have an affect on Black Tickle and William's Harbour."

But, according to Canada Post in Halifax, the mail delivery will continue as planned after Nov. 1.

"We have no plans to change the service; this will be the same for the next year, they didn't say anything about a contract being terminated," Genevieve Latour, a spokesperson for Canada Post, told the Pen. "No matter what, they will continue to provide the service to Canada Post, in terms of mail. We will have some agreement for Air Labrador to continue to move the mail and food for us."

But with the connection of phase three of the Trans-Labrador Highway, linking Goose Bay to Cartwright Junction, compounded with a drop-off in passengers to the southeast coast (21,000 in 2001 to 5,000 last year, according to the airline), Air Labrador has been forced to discontinue service to communities in the area.

Canada Post said the dates for connection of the TLH are too fuzzy to make decisions about cutting air mail services to the southeast coast.

"At this point, it's too early for us because that portion of the highway isn't completed," Canada Post said. "Also, there's another portion that will only be finished apparently in the spring. So, up until it is completely finished, we have no plan at all to change a thing. However, once it is completed, yes, Canada Post will review the situation and look at the feasibility of using that portion of highway."