Mount Pearl seniors oppose switch to community mailboxes

More than 50 people mostly seniors turned out for a public meeting in Mount Pearl Tuesday evening to hear from union leaders and politicians opposed to a decision by Canada Post to end door-to-door mail delivery in the St. John's area next fall.

Many seniors said they are not impressed by the move towards community mailboxes.

Among them was Phyllis Forward, who lives in a seniors complex.

"I don't like it one little bit. There's people here with walkers, people in wheelchairs, people who don't have somebody to go out. The lady next door to me she is nearly blind, she is crippled, and how can she get out and go to a mailbox," said Forward.

Changing postal needs

It's been estimated that roughly 29,000 homes on the northeast Avalon will lose home delivery next fall.

The move is part of Canada Post's five-point action plan that was announced in December 2013.

It is in response to the rise in digital communication, which has dramatically changed the postal needs of Canadians.

Up to a year ago, roughly one-third of Canadian households received home mail delivery.

However, home delivery is scheduled to be phased out over a five-year period, and replaced with a community mailbox delivery system.

This system is already in place in most regions of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The move is being fought by the union that represents postal employees, and has been met with criticism by some municipal leaders and customers with mobility issues.

George Cunningham said it will be particularly difficult for some seniors after the weather turns cold.

"A lot of them don't have cars, so I mean everybody's got to walk to them and during the winter it's not easy for people," said Cunningham.

Union leaders and politicians are gathering signatures on a petition calling on Canada Post to reverse its plan.

Canada Post argues that the changes are necessary in order to fulfill its mandate to remain financially self-sufficient and avoid becoming a burden on taxpayers.

The corporation says community mailboxes "costsignificantly less" than home delivery.