TUESDAY MARCH 10, 2009

MARCH IS FRAUD PREVENTION MONTH
The Competition Bureau launched the March 2009 fraud awareness campaign with a strong warning to Canadian business and consumers: be on the lookout for an increase in fraudulent activity by scammers during the current economic downturn. This month long campaign is aimed at addressing the issue of fraud and ensuring confidence in the marketplace. According to Melanie Aitken, Interim Commissioner of Competition, the Competition Bureau expects both businesses and consumers to be more vulnerable to scams as they look to minimize costs. In 2008, the competition Bureau received almost 15,000 mass marketing fraud complaints, which is fraud by mail, telephone and Internet, and includes the growing problem of identity theft.

Learn more about Fraud Awareness for Commercial Targets (FACT):
http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/02600.html
Learn more about Security of the Mail:
 

Learn more about mail fraud scam:

http://canadapost.ca/AboutUs/News/Announcements/Fraud.aspx?lang=en

FINAL WASTE DIVERSION ONTARIO (WDO) REPORT DUE
The final WDO report with recommendations will be submitted to the Hon. John Gerretsen, Minister of the Environment, on March 20. This final report follows the webinar/town hall meeting of February 12, in which the draft report and recommendations were tabled for discussion with interested stakeholders. The NAMMU brief took the opportunity to state the industry’s notable environmental achievements as a paper/print-based industry, and as well, our concern about the proposal to shift to 100 per cent industry funding from the current shared producer responsibility of 50 per cent with municipalities. Without this mutual commitment, the balance of costs and efficiencies has the potential to shift from one sector to another. NAMMU members have been mailed a copy of the brief, and questions/comments are welcomed at: executive@nammu.org

THE ROI OF GREEN
Francois Ouellette, Canada Post Corporation, recently presented a discussion document to the NAMMU Montreal Chapter: THE ROI OF GREEN. The presentation is an excellent recap and integration of consumer perception, expectations of business, impact for Direct Mail, and Canada Post’s Sustainability Program and environmental priorities. Many of the issues raised in the discussion document were tabled at the December Toronto Chapter meeting segment on best practices in Address Management, as well as the VAM-Canada Post partnership initiatives session February 26th. During discussions last year between Robert Waite, Senior Vice-President, Corporate Social Responsibility, and NAMMU President, Kathleen Rowe, they agreed the mailing industry should be included as an important element in this year’s Social Responsibility Report.
Learn more – click here:

CANADA POST PRIVATIZATION?
There has been speculation in the press about a potential privatization of Canada Post Corporation - this despite the fact that the framework for the 2008 hearings by the Strategic Review Advisory Panel stated clearly privatization was not an option. The Panel’s report was submitted to government in December, and the Hon. Rob Merrifield, Minister of State for Transport, is reportedly preparing to release the report and recommendations this month. Privatization does not seem likely according to several industry observers, and given the insight provided to the Panel during the review process as well as website submissions, apparently would not be well received by Canadians or Canadian business at this point.

LUC DESJARDINS JOINS CIBC BOARD
Charles Sirois, Chair of the Board, CIBC, recently announced that Luc Desjardins has joined the CIBC Board of Directors. Desjardins is currently an equity partner at The Sterling Group, LP, a private equity firm based in Houston, Texas. From 2004 to 2008, Mr. Desjardins was President and Chief Executive Officer of Transcontinental Inc. Luc Desjardins is also a Director of Kruger Inc.and Cendrex Inc.
 

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eView is the electronic bulletin of the National Association of Major Mail Users highlighting issues of interest to business mail communication and delivery professionals. Content: KMR Group. The information contained in eView is obtained from various sources and believed to be reliable but accuracy cannot be guaranteed.