Canadian postal workers suspended for not delivering pro-Trump conspiracy paper

Canada Post employee thought flyer was ‘trash’ before refusing to deliver copies of the Epoch Times

Two Canadian postal workers were suspended for refusing to deliver copies of a far-right newspaper, the Epoch Times, which carries pro-Trump messages.

The papers were delivered by the country’s mailing service, Canada Post, and were received by residents in Ontario, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and the Maritimes last month, Vice News reported.

But employees with Canada Post allegedly refused to deliver the copies of the paper, which has promoted Mr Trump and other far right politicians, as well as the downfall of the Chinese Communist Party.

Ramiro Sepulveda, a postal worker in Regina, Saskatchewan, told Vice he was suspended without pay for three days after refusing to deliver the papers, and thought the flyers were “trash”.

“I recently refused to deliver these pieces of hate mail that would have a negative and divisive effect on whoever should read it”, wrote Mr Sepulveda on Facebook.

He described his background as being a “first generation Canadian born to socialist refugees from Chile.”

“These forms of propaganda have been used before in history and have always fuelled verbal and physical hostility toward marginalised people,” he continued, and said his managers at Canada Post had “threatened” his employment with them.

He told Vice that a co-worker, Su Linying, also refused to deliver the same copy of the Epoch Times, and was also suspended for three days without pay by Canada Post.

The company has in the past come under fire for delivering copies of the paper, which is believed to be funded by the Chinese Falun Gong spiritual movement - an arguably apocalyptic spiritual community that wants to take down the Chinese government.

Mr Trump, the former US president is seen as being an ally of the movement, and will bring about a day of reckoning for the Chinese Communist Party.

According to NBC News, the pro-Trump paper has previously spent millions supporting the former US president, and spent more than $1.5 million (£1.2 million) on pro-Trump advertisements in the first six months of 2019.

Copies of the Epoch Times were also handed out at Mr Trump’s rallies throughout 2020, along with advertisements such as “Stay Away From The Chinese Communist Party", according to reports. 

A spokesperson for Canada Post told Vice that the company was “obligated to deliver any mail that is properly prepared and paid for, unless it is considered non-mailable matter.”

“Any views we may have about the content do not change our obligation to deliver,” the company added.

This article was amended on February 10, 2021, to add the word 'arguably' to the reference to Falun Gong being 'an apocalyptic spiritual community that wants to take down the Chinese government'.