Transcontinental stops distributing Publisac in Mirabel


The company says an opt-in system for its flyer distribution network, as mandated by the Laurentians city, is not viable.

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TC Transcontinental will end its print advertising distribution service in Mirabel, the company announced on Monday.

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The choice follows a Quebec Superior Court decision, rendered last Wednesday, rejecting the publisher’s motion to nullify a by-law adopted by the city.

The municipality north of Montreal opted, in October 2019, for a membership system in order to have the Publisac delivered to doorsteps.

Last week, TC Transcontinental announced that it would appeal the Superior Court decision.

On Monday, the company said the opt-in distribution model is not viable for the door-to-door distribution of the Publisac. The distribution of its customers’ printed flyers will therefore be entrusted to Canada Post.

Patrick Brayley, Senior Vice-President, Distribution at TC Transcontinental, deplored the loss of 16 jobs after more than 30 years of doing business in Mirabel.

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“It is important however to continue to allow the population to have access to the discounts offered by flyers, particularly in the context of high inflation, as well as to their local information, and for local businesses to be able to efficiently reach their audiences and compete against the giants of e-commerce,” he said in a statement.

In TC Transcontinental’s opinion, it would be simpler and more efficient for those who do not wish to receive the Publisac to make that request, which 200,000 Quebec households have already done.

Two weeks ago, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said the province’s largest city will also adopt a membership system starting in May 2023 and bags will no longer be plastic.

According to Plante, approximately 800,000 flyers and other unsolicited advertisements end up in the city each week, which represents more than 41 million flyers per year that end up in recycling depots and landfills. Montreal aims to become zero waste by 2030.

TC Transcontinental is Canada’s largest printer. The company has approximately 8,000 employees, the majority of whom are in Canada, the United States and Latin America.


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