WINNIPEG – Canada Post has announced door-to-door delivery is going the way of the letter.
Canada Post unveiled Wednesday what it called a five-point action plan to save $700 million to $900 million a year.
“We have to make the changes to make sure we can serve Canadians (while) at the same time ensuring we don’t become a burden on them as taxpayers,” Canada Post spokesperson Jon Hamilton told Global News Wednesday.
The plan includes cutting 6,000-8,000 jobs, increasing the cost of stamps and phasing out door-to-door delivery in favour of community mailboxes.
“Obviously the biggest savings come from the community mailbox transition,” said Hamilton. “It’s a good, secure way to deliver mail and parcels but requires a lot fewer people.”
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Two-thirds of Canadians already get their mail at community boxes, Canada Post said, but according to the Prairie region postal workers’ union, more than half of Winnipeggers are still getting door-to-door delivery.
“Those that are elderly or have mobility issues, it will be a tremendous burden on them to get mail from a group mailbox,” said Gord Fischer of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.
Canadians are sending fewer letters, opting instead for emails, texts, or social media, and Canada Post needs to change with its customers, the Crown corporation said.
There are 150 to 200 letter carrier positions in Winnipeg, the union said.
“I would expect that in some areas, depending on the number of retirees or the attrition rate, we would see people lose jobs that are currently working,” Fischer said.
Canada Post expects to start phasing out routes and jobs by next summer.
WATCH: The Morning Show team discusses whether change was necessary to move Canada Post back into the black
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