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Canada Post Faces Backlash Over Proposed End to Door-to-Door Mail Delivery

New report recommends cost-saving measures, including community mailboxes and rural post office closures, intensifying accessibility and labor disputes.

Canada Post says it has received strike notices from the union representing some 55,000 postal workers, with operations poised to shut down by end of week. Canada Post vehicles are seen parked at a delivery depot in Vancouver, B.C., Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.  THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Overview

  • The Industrial Inquiry Commission recommends phasing out door-to-door mail delivery, citing financial unsustainability due to declining mail volumes.
  • Canada Post estimates annual savings of $350 million by transitioning to community mailboxes, while offering accommodations for those with disabilities.
  • The report also proposes lifting a 1994 moratorium on rural post office closures, sparking concerns from affected communities and stakeholders.
  • Disability advocates and seniors warn that community mailboxes pose significant accessibility challenges, particularly for those with mobility issues.
  • The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has issued a strike notice and halted overtime, opposing the report's recommendations and its potential impact on workers.