By Ashley Wiebe

Some upset Liberals not delivering on Canada Post promise

Jan 24, 2018 | 3:29 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The federal government announced they will not continue the community mailbox conversions and will not restore door-to-door delivery.

The Harper government brought in the idea to end door-to-door delivery in hopes to see the Crown corporation to save about $400 million every year.

About 840,000 addresses have switched to community mailboxes, which brought in about $80 million in savings.

4.2 million Canadian homes were still scheduled to have their services switched to community mailboxes, which would have meant about $350 million in savings, but the Liberals are leaving things the way they are.

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The federal Minister for Public Services, Carla Qualtrough, spoke on Wednesday, about how Canada Post will bring in an assisted mail delivery service for people who can’t get to their community mailboxes because of limited mobility.

Home delivery will remain in place for those already receiving it and any conversions which were scheduled have been cancelled.

Canada Post is also planing to bring in new management, who will be tasked with finding ways of saving money

Canada Post saw a boom of shipping parcels last year, which official believe shows there’s a chance to modernize the business model.

“The cooperation and its employees have been working hard to adapt to a rapidly changing business environment,” Qualtrough said. “Canada Post is in a better near-term financial picture than anticipated even two years ago. This provides us with some breathing space to get long term renewal right. It will

adapt to neat challenges and take advantage of opportunities created by new technologies and the evolving expectations of Canadians.”

Medicine Hat residents will continue see community mailboxes in our neighbourhoods.

Restoring door-to-door for Canadians that already have community boxes would cost about $195 million up front And close to $95 million for ongoing tasks.

Trudeau had promised during his election campaign in 2015 to save home mail delivery.

David Condon, a former postal worker who was involved with the group Save Canada Post, said Trudeau has broken his promise.

“It leaves people in a bad situation,” he said. “People in Lethbridge are going to maintain their door-to-door delivery. People in Medicine Hat won’t get a return to door-to-door delivery, so it’s a two-tier service.”

Community mailboxes will continue to be installed in any new housing developments.