Saint John's member of Parliament is pushing for postage-free mail delivery to Canadian soldiers, thanks to the efforts of one correspondence-devoted constituent.

June Dobson's nephew, Master Cpl. Steven Maher, has been in Afghanistan since February. She's proud of him, and she likes to let him know, she said.

"I send Steven a card probably four times a week," Dobson said.

One of those letters was returned, she said — with six cents due.

"I thought, that's kind of cheap," Dobson said. "I was so upset. Not at the six cents, but there's another week delayed in getting the mail to him."

Dobson's member of Parliament, Liberal Paul Zed, rose in the House of Commons Tuesday to introduce a private member's bill that would amend the Canada Post Corporation Act to make it free to send letters to members of the Canadian Forces serving overseas.

"It is free to send your member of Parliament mail; it would make sense that it should be free to send mail to our brave men and women who are putting their lives in danger for all of us," Zed said.

"I would hope all honourable members would support June's bill," Zed said to the Speaker, referring to Dobson.

'I just wanted to get it off my chest'

Dobson said she didn't mean to cause any fuss, but she was pleased to find out her MP agreed with her.

"I just wanted to get it off my chest," she said. "I had no idea it was going to make it big, but I'm glad. I'm glad I did it."

Whether the bill becomes law or not, Dobson said, she will continue to send three or four cards a week to her nephew while he's in Afghanistan.

"I tell him how much I love him and miss him, and how much I support what he's doing," she said. "He needs that. They've got to get their mind off of what's going on over there. It's an awful place."

Zed said he plans to lobby MPs from all parties in hopes of gaining unanimous consent for the bill. Failing that, it could take more than a year for a final vote.