In December, Canada Post announced that door-to-door postal delivery was to be discontinued within the next five years. That’s quite a change in our standard of service. Many seniors contacted me with concerns.
As a director with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, we immediately contacted Canada Post and reminded them that any implementation plan would have to involve municipalities. Municipalities need to plan for the impact of any community mailbox installation in established neighbourhoods. We need to mitigate any impact on traffic, trash, access and location.
No one wants a “super mailbox” installed on, or near, their property.
The Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce polled business members, and again, there was concern voiced about the impact to the small business community in the GTA.
Canada Post CEO Deepak Chopra responded, “The vast majority of business addresses will continue to have mail and parcels delivered to their door and will experience no change.” However, those businesses must be located on main streets or “business corridors.” This will affect home businesses, which comprise the majority of businesses in Richmond Hill.
As for seniors, Chopra said, “We are developing alternative approaches for people with … mobility challenges.” Those in apartments, seniors’ homes and condos that already have mail delivered in the lobby will see no change.
The responsibility of “sensitive” implementation will fall to the local government. Of course, the problem with that is the tight five-year timeline.