PAP users face five per cent postal increase

While commercial Publications Mail prices are slated to increase April 1, 2001 by up to 12.5 per cent, participants in the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) will see their costs rise by only five per cent.

Canada Post has announced an increase of two cents, or 12.5 per cent on Local Rural and of two cents, or eight per cent on Regional rates. The PAP subsidized rate will increase by five per cent to 9.3 cents for any category of mailing, Local Rural, Regional or National. At present the rate is 8.9 cents. The difference between the PAP rate and the Canada Post rate is the subsidy paid by the Department of Canadian Heritage.

For information on PAP eligibility, go to the Heritage web site at http://www.pch.gc.ca/culture/cult_ind/progs/newspapers.htm or contact Serge Lavoie at the CCNA office.