Stamp it ‘delayed’

Charlottetown asks that Canada Post put off move to switch some addresses over to super mailboxes

Charlottetown city council is asking Canada Post to wait a bit longer before moving to super mailboxes.

Council recently passed a resolution asking the federal government wait until after the federal election later this year, which is scheduled for October.

“There are a lot of people in this city who simply are not in favour of the elimination of the door-to-door mail delivery service,’’ said Coun. Mitchell Tweel, who moved the resolution. The resolution passed 7-2 with councillors Terry Bernard and Melissa Hilton opposed.

Canada Post plans to replace door-to-door delivery with super mailboxes in Charlottetown and Stratford later this year, a move that will affect almost 10,000 mail addresses.

The change does not affect seniors’ residences, apartments or condos where mail is delivered to the lobby. There is also no change for businesses within business corridors or with high volumes of mail.

Charlottetown isn’t the only municipality trying to fight Canada Post.

The City of Hamilton plans to spend $75,000 to appeal a recent court decision in favour of Canada Post. The Ontario city says the Crown corporation should follow municipal rules when placing community mailboxes on city land while one judge disagreed.

Closer to home, Bernard points out that the City of Charlottetown sent a written letter to the federal minister responsible for Canada Post opposing the change and that didn’t work. He added that plans for the change are already underway.

“I just think it’s false hope, that’s all,’’ Bernard said.