Flin Flonners hoping to save home mail delivery will gather next week in a seemingly long-shot bid to change Canada Post’s mind.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers Local 734 will host a town hall to discuss, among other things, the planned end of door-to-door delivery by late 2018.
“We’re hoping that if we get enough opposition to the removal of door-to-door delivery in our town that…we’ll retain our service,” said union president Rena Gummerson.
The end of door-to-door delivery will mean fewer jobs for the community and lost income for businesses, Gummerson said.
She said segments of the population who fear they’ll suffer under the plan, including seniors, the physically challenged and business owners, have been invited to speak at the town hall.
Gummerson said the union is also inviting Mayor George Fontaine, officials from the Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce, and Canada Post representative Fred Pollard.
Churchill MP Niki Ashton, a vocal opponent of Canada Post’s plan, is already slated to attend.
In addition to door-to-door delivery, the town hall will discuss rising postal rates and their impact on the
community.
No indication
For its part, Canada Post has given no indication it will reverse its nationwide plan to end home delivery on the grounds that it is neither necessary nor financially sustainable in this day
and age.
The Crown corporation has already begun phasing out home delivery in parts of Canada, but has not announced when Flin Flon’s service will cease. All home delivery is to stop by the end
of 2018.
Canada Post’s plan is to install outdoor “community mailboxes,” which contain individual locking boxes for each home in a given area, in every neighbourhood. Mail will be delivered to these boxes rather than to
residences.
Canada Post will continue home delivery for Canadians who are not physically capable of retrieving their mail from a community mailbox each day. People who need this service will have to supply a
doctor’s note.
All members of the public are invited to attend. The town hall will be held next Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 7 pm at the city hall council chambers.
