Canada Post to phase out home delivery in Kanata this fall
By Meghan Hurley, OTTAWA CITIZEN February 20, 2014 10:09 AM
OTTAWA — Transition from door-to-door mail delivery to community mailboxes will begin in the fall in 11 cities across Canada, including Ottawa.
Canada Post announced on Thursday the transition in Ottawa includes Kanata postal codes starting with K2K, K2L, K2M.
Canada Post said they chose those postal codes since they are near areas that already have community mailboxes.
There will be no change in delivery for apartment buildings, seniors buildings, condos, rural delivery and businesses.
The transition to community mailboxes has been met with much resistance.
Hundreds of postal workers, labour union members and supporters have protested the changes.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said the transition will mean layoffs for as many as 8,000 employees.
Canada Post, however, insists the reduction of between 6,000 and 8,000 employees will be done through attrition as workers retire or voluntarily leave the company.
Critics of the change worry about litter, vandalism and theft at the boxes.
Concerns about the ability of seniors and people with disabilities to get to the community mailboxes have also been raised.
But Canada Post said they may need to offer others solutions for people with mobility issues and will seek input from the community.
“Canada Post understands that some seniors and Canadians with disabilities may not be able to get to their community mailbox, and it is committed to ensuring that no one is left behind from accessing the mail service,” Canada Post wrote in a news release.
Canada Post announced on Dec. 11 the transition will take place over the next five years as part of a major overhaul aimed at stemming losses.
The corporation faces a $1-billion deficit by 2020.
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