Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Canada Post & Meaningless Communication Chaos with Regards to Community Mailboxes

Canada Post, a crown corporation, first announced phase-out of door-to-door mail delivery, then recorded profits in the following year (Canada Post flips to $194M profit in 2014).  And now Canada Post might just win the next battle (Canada Post and Hamilton will square off in court at the end of May), a battle where Canada Post installs community mailboxes with a wherever and whenever attitude: “Canada Post has the exclusive jurisdiction over postal services in Canada and has the legal authority to install community mailboxes on municipally-owned property,” spokesperson Jon Hamilton said on Wednesday; Source: CBC.ca. But it seems that some communities are starting to have enough of the ‘meaningless communication‘ that Canada Post has been sharing.

Yes, Canada Post is a federal crown corporation which means that it is owned by the federal government and provides postal service to Canadians.  But should that entitle them to an attitude of ‘control‘?  “I set the rules in the playground, I play my way, whenever and wherever I want.”  Is that a message we expect to hear from our government?  Would that be consistent with our 21st century definition of democracy in Canada? Perhaps it was redefined without us knowing it? Nevertheless, it is our government, and I like to think that we should all work together, people and all levels of government, toward the same goal. Perhaps I continue to forget, some of those people are part of the government. Darn, mash up!

Let’s look at the bigger picture, Canada Post’s Five Point Action Plan, March 2015, it states on page three, about their Municipal Engagement: “We work with municipal officials to find the safest, most convenient locations for each neighbourhood, leveraging existing street lighting and sidewalks where feasible. We build our plans based on customer surveys and established guidelines. This process helps to ensure municipal resources can be used most efficiently and keeps to a minimum the time requirement from city staff. To help offset any potential costs related to their involvement in converting door-to-door neighbourhoods, we offer $50 per site to the municipality early in the process.

Really? That is not what our residents and Aurora Town Council are saying. Furthermore, from the action plan Canada Post states, “We consult with residents early in the process to determine their preferences and attempt to address their questions and concerns regarding the conversion.” Again, not according to one resident who had to wait a few weeks just to receive back a ‘meaningless‘ email from Canada Post.

Just for laughs, “As every community is different and unique, we recognize that a one-size-fits-all approach will not work.” That is completely true; every issue I have heard or read about pertaining to the Canada Post community mailboxes so far has been unique.

Stories, news, council meetings, the list can go on and on. I am sure there will be more concerns. Just the other day I read a buzz from Newmarket residents having similar issues with Canada Post as well.

So what is happening in Aurora?

At the last Aurora Town Council meeting dated May 11, 2015 Cllr Mrakas put a motion forward to endorse and support the City of Hamilton’s initiatives that address community concerns with regards to Canada Post’s ‘eliminationof home delivery and replacement with Community Mailboxes‘ and their concern with regards to meaningless communication with municipalities (residents especially). Cllr Terry Whitehead from the City of Hamilton presented at that meeting. Cllr Mrakas’ motion is also asking that Town of Aurora staff prepare a By-law for Council’s consideration. The By-law would require Canada Post to apply for a permit and pay a fee, to be defined, before any Community mailboxes are installed.

Well to be fair, I have to add a few more comments. I have not been affected by the change from home delivery to community mailboxes. I may have been affected by the cost of stamps, but in this whole scenario I have been just an outside observer.

In my opinion, elimination of door-to-door mail delivery causes two issues. First, internal issues with Canada Post employees. Who want’s to lose a job? Second, service issues with residents. Who want’s to lose door-to-door mail service? Right, no body. But it is happening. I call it a double-whammy change. If you have two sides, corporate culture and community members both opposing the change, chances are that the change process will become chaotic. I think the real root cause is the anger of people. It is unfortunate that cost cutting sometimes directly results in job cuts. It is also unfortunate that through the crown relationship, our own government is involved in those cuts.

So where does that leave us? Well, the lack of communication, even more, the lack of meaningful communication does not seem to be changing. Everything on paper from Canada Post sounds good, but the echo of it is totally different. Perhaps it may be too early but we can all start writing a letter to Santa Clause and ask for a bit more meaningful communication all around, it’s free and you’re guaranteed a response – if not from Santa then from Canada Post. And if that doesn’t work, we can always try addressing it to God and let’s hope he will write back something meaningful.

To conclude here is a very interesting post about Canada Post in numbers, Why You’ll Pay $1 a Stamp and Won’t Get Mail Delivered to Your Door in Urban Areas.

Anna Lozyk Romeo
Aurora, ON

Latest Blog Posts

Anna Lozyk Romeo for Mayor of Aurora, Municipal Elections 2022

To my Living in Aurora blog readers: I am running for Mayor of Aurora.  It is a great opportunity now...

From Shining to Shameful – The Continued Loss of the Oak Ridges Moraine

A picture-perfect vista of soft, rolling hills where wild turkey, deer and coyote once roamed has been reduced to...

North East Quadrant of Wellington St & John West Way Development Appealed

At the February 22nd, 2022 Council meeting, Aurora Council UNANIMOUSLY (7-0) voted to refuse a 6-storey, 150 unit residential...

Important Links

The Knowles Butcher Shop on Fire, June 25th 2021 – Photo Gallery

The so known Knowles Butcher Shop on 9 Wellington Street East is a long-standing building in Aurora, c. 1885....

Church Street School, Construction Site (Photo Gallery)

Photos of Church Street School during the Library Square construction. Photos dated May 22, 2021. Anna Lozyk RomeoAurora, Ontario

Cineplex Odeon – What Year Was This Photo Taken?

Photo of the Cineplex Odeon in Aurora. What year do you think this photo was taken? Your clues are...

Snowflake Path Downtown Aurora, Photo Gallery

Finally, just in time for Christmas snowflake decorations are all working downtown Aurora. ... and this is what we used...

Changes Along Wellington Street, 3-Years Ago & Today

Few changes along Wellington Street. While looking back at some of my old blog posts I came across one from...

Archived

Flooding at the Aurora Community Arboretum – The Wet Look

We are currently experiencing heavy May (2017) showers, that...

Starlings and More Starlings, Wellington St and Bayview Ave

Something has been attracting a flock of European Starlings...

Cineplex Odeon – What Year Was This Photo Taken?

Photo of the Cineplex Odeon in Aurora. What year...

Think About It

Leadership is Not About the Next Election

"Leadership is not about the next election, it's about...

You Might Also Like