Canada Post criticized for poor snow removal around mailboxes

A Moncton senior says Canada Post needs to do a better job of clearing snow from around mailboxes.

Mellie Macpherson says she hasn't been able to mail a letter fromher neighbourhoodmailbox since January because the red Canada Post box is buried in snow.

Her local mailbox, which is located at the corner of Mountain Roadand North Street, has been inaccessible since the first storm in January.

"It's so icy and it's just not accessible ... [snow] was at one point above the mailbox," Macpherson said.

Macpherson contacted Canada Post to complain nearly three months ago and says at that time she was told it would be dealt with, but nothing has changed.

"I still like to write letters and I send cards and sometimes there are some bills that I can't pay any other way and Ineed to use the mail," he said.

Outside contractors hired

CBC Newscontacted Canada Post on Monday and a communications person in Ottawa said outside contractors are hired to clear paths to mailboxes.

The communications person said there has been a lot of snow this winter in the Maritimes and promised to look into the matter.

Macpherson says if fire hydrants and bus stops can be keptclear of snow, mailboxes should be as well.

"Their mandate is to make certain that mailboxes are always accessible to all of us, so I don't feel that's an excuse," shesaid.

Macphersonsaid she is now worried about what will happen when home mail delivery is phased out and people have to go to community mailboxes.

"Is this going to be a problem for us then as well? You know senior citizens are usually the majority of people who want to still use the mail and this is not helping them at all," she said.

Macphersonpoints out that Canada Post has just raised the cost of postageand saidshe can't imagine a suitable excuse for not buying a few shovels to clear a path to local mailboxes.

She saidwithout accessshe has to drive to the main post office on narrow and icy streets.

"I don't think I should be forced to do that, I should be able to access my neighbourhood mailbox why should I always have to go down to the post office?" she said.