February 5, 2004

(Translation of a letter sent to La Presse)

Dear Sir, Madam,

I would like to provide a few clarifications in response to the article entitled Une gaffe timbrée, published in the January 24, 2004 edition of your newspaper. This article, which borders on an editorial, overlooks several important details.

You write that the selected illustration of the character featured on the stamp does not appear to please everyone. Obviously, we will never please everyone. It is important to point out, however, that Canada Post does not choose its subjects lightly and that all images on our stamps are selected through an intensive process that includes thorough research.

This process may occasionally include, if the subject is appropriate, public consultations. In this specific instance, we commissioned a marketing agency well known to the Chinese community to consult it with our initial sketch. This consultation enabled us to gather some 25 to 30 suggestions, all of which were taken into consideration in the final design.

You also write that some Canadians of Chinese origin claim that this monkey bears no resemblance to the one on the lunar calendar. Yet 99 percent of the people consulted through this same poll acknowledged that the monkey depicted was in fact that from the famous legend of Sun Wu-k'ung, the Monkey King. Sun Wu-k'ung is the classic symbol of the monkey in the Chinese culture and its image has been featured countless times on stamps issued by Asian countries.

Finally, another measure of the favourable reception the Chinese community has given the stamp are definitely the sales figures at events surrounding the launch of the new stamp in Vancouver and Toronto. These sales of stamps and various products generated more than $35,000 in just a few hours.

I hope these additional details will help your readers form a more informed opinion of the situation.

Sincerely,

François Legault
Manager, Media Relations
Canada Post
613-734-8847