An artist in Makkovik is struggling to ship out her jewelry because of cost increase during labour dispute.
Mahalia Ardis
Kicker News
The Big Land is one of the most beautiful places one could live, but it comes at a high cost.
On Sept. 25, Canada Post hit the pickets line. Weeks later, they switched to rotating strikes, but they tell people to expect delays regardless.
Labrador has been hit hard by the postal delays.
Amanda Gear lives in Makkovik but is originally from Nain.
“As an artist; getting materials in by mail has stopped so I can’t create things I normally do,” Gear said. “(Even) if you have the materials on hand to do so, you’re limited to who you sell too. I can’t ship it out (by) my mail.”
Although Gear can get most of the beads for her art locally, there are still many materials she cannot get in Makkovik and must order them in from other places around the province. She says even before the strike, she would still be paying $20 to $30 for shipping. Now with Canada Post not in the equation, she must use other shipping methods.
“If I were to choose Purolator instead of Canada Post, that’s an extra $50 depending on where (it’s) from,” said Gear.
Lately she’s only been able to sell locally, or to the town craft store.
But it’s not just a business matter, Gear says the Canada Post strike is affecting the general cost of living.
“For the most part, people I know order in bulk through Costco to save on pantry items and other household items.”
Costco shipping is $8 per item, but Gear says it’s still cheaper than buying local groceries most of the time.
Jacquie Dawe now lives in Coley’s Point, N.L., but for many years she lived in Nain and owned one of the three grocery stores in the community – Jacquie’s Convenience Ltd.
“We weren’t the main store in Nain, (but) some would say we were,” Dawe said.
Dawe says they received most of the products they sold in their store by boat from June to December, and by freight plane year-round. She agrees with Gear it’s cheaper to order online than buying local in many cases.
“The prices had to be higher in Nain because of the location,” said Dawe. “Because it’s a northly isolated community, freight cost was high and therefore had to be passed into the price we sold it for.”
A strike could really affect a place like Nain for many reasons, says Dawe, but one of them being that many people depend on the postal service in that area.
“Everything an individual gets in (is through) Canada Post,” said Dawe. “They would get … birthday or Christmas gifts. Decorations for grass, birthdays, weddings – all Canada Post. Also, many people, at the time we moved out, got their pension cheques … through Canada post.”
Gear says it seems like many other shipping companies have upped their prices, since the Canada post strikes started.
“My uncle ordered in a windshield for his Ski-Doo this past winter – which is no more than three to four pounds, mind you – and just from Goose Bay to Makkovik (shipping) was nearly $100,” said Gear.
Although Gear doesn’t fully understand how the whole system works, she thinks some things could be changed for the better.
“The store could order in more supplies and have a more reasonable set of prices of necessities,” said Gear.
Canada Post has yet to reach an agreement with CUPW.
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