CAMBRIDGE - Effective October 26th Canada Post will start providing free delivery of letters from family and friends to Canadian troops deployed overseas until the start of 2009.
This free delivery offer extends to family and friends of the deployed troops serving overseas in war zones, including members of the Canadian Forces serving in Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sinai and Jerusalem, and troops serving on any of the deployed Canadian ships
"The words of encouragement written by families and friends to men and women deployed overseas are a very special form of support," said MP Gary Goodyear. "I know that many constituents in my community of Cambridge as well as the surrounding area have friends and family who are serving our country overseas."
Canada's Government strongly supports our women and men in uniform, and we welcome this very positive initiative to help our troops overseas remain connected with their loved ones in Canada.
"I am thrilled that the Canada Post has decided to undertake this initiative, and I hope that many Canadian families will take advantage of this opportunity," said Goodyear.
To ensure the proper customs declaration form and addressing information are used, the letters will need to be sent from one of Canada Post's more than 6,600 full service retail outlets across the country - letters dropped in regular street letter boxes will not qualify for free delivery. 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 Defense will take charge of the letters and ensure their delivery overseas. All mail must be addressed to a specific soldier, including rank and mission information.
