Canada Post announced Monday it was temporarily suspending its conversion of door-to-door mail delivery to community mailboxes, in a move that will affect about 460,000 addresses across the country. The union representing postal workers said it’s “ecstatic” but hopes to see restored service for those who’ve already lost home delivery.
“All conversions planned for November and December 2015 and those announced for 2016 will be placed on hold,” said a statement from spokesperson Anick Losier.
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Canada Post said it would work with the federal government to create a plan, and customers impacted will receive a letter within the next few weeks, “advising them of the status of their mail delivery service.”
“In neighbourhoods where the 10-month internal and community conversion process is complete, customers will collect mail and parcels at their community mailbox,” said the statement. “This includes customers set to begin receiving their mail and parcels in their boxes in October.”
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“Unfortunately it’s too late for the tens of thousands who lost their door-to-door delivery this morning,” he said, adding the union will be pushing for a public review of Canada Post’s mandate.
“The Liberals have promised to have a study about the role of Canada Post. We want to make sure that’s done in a public manner so the public can have input into this, because after all, Canada Post is owned by the public.”
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Trudeau promised during the election campaign to reverse cuts to door-to-door mail delivery that were begun under the Harper Conservative government. A Liberal Party spokesperson would not confirm if Canada Post had received direction from the new government Monday, but referred Global News to its platform, which promises to maintain door-to-door delivery.
There have been several protests against the box installations since the federal election, with some people standing or lying on dirt piles to prevent workers from placing cement foundations for the mailboxes.
Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre even took a jackhammer to a slab of concrete designated for a community mailbox in Pierrefonds-Roxboro back in August. Watch the video of his protest below:
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With files from The Canadian Press
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