It's official - Canada Post is letting packages go for free from 20 Oct 08 to 16 Jan 09.
Canada Post Will Continue Program of Free Delivery to Deployed Troops
Canada Post news release, 20 Oct 08
News release link
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, Oct 20, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- Canada Post announced today it will continue providing free delivery of letters and parcels from family and friends to Canadian troops deployed in Afghanistan and elsewhere overseas.
Free parcel service for family and friends of deployed Canadian troops will be provided from October 20, 2008 to January 16, 2009. Last year Canada Post forwarded 11,000 parcels to our Canadian troops serving in Afghanistan and elsewhere overseas. Family and friends of deployed troops will also be able to continue sending lettermail free throughout 2009. At the end of this period, Canada Post and the Department of National Defence will jointly evaluate the program.
"Mail from home is extremely important to the men and women serving overseas in these trying times and we are pleased to continue supporting our troops and their families," said Moya Greene, president and Chief Executive Officer of Canada Post.
"As Minister responsible for Canada Post, I continue to support this initiative. I know how much our troops look forward to the messages they receive from their family and friends," said Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.
With capacity limitations on military aircraft carrying supplies and munitions to deployed forces, this offer is restricted to family and friends of the deployed service men and women serving overseas in war zones. That includes members of the Canadian Forces serving in Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sinai and Jerusalem. Troops serving on any of the deployed Her Majesty's Canadian Ships are also included in the offer.
"I congratulate Canada Post for continuing to offer free mail service to family members and friends of troops deployed in combat zones," said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. "Our Government strongly supports our men and women in uniform, and we welcome this very positive initiative to help our troops overseas remain connected with their loved ones in Canada."
To ensure the proper customs declaration form and addressing information, the letters and parcels will need to be deposited at one of Canada Post's more than 6,600 full service retail outlets across the country (letters and packages dropped in regular street letter boxes will not qualify). They will then be forwarded to Canadian Forces Bases in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Victoria, British Columbia and Belleville, Ontario. Once delivered to the military bases, the Department of National Defence will take charge of the letters and parcels and ensure their delivery overseas. All mail must be addressed to a specific soldier, including rank and mission information.
Contacts:
Canada Post
Media Relations
613-734-8888
www.canadapost.ca