CARP welcomes Canada Post backdown on controversial community mailboxes

new CARP logo

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 26, 2015

Toronto, ON: CARP members will welcome Canada Post’s announcement that it will suspend installation of community mailboxes pending further direction from the incoming government which campaigned on restoring home mail delivery. CARP members polled said that door-to-door mail delivery is an “important national service” and shouldn’t be eliminated, and voiced their concerns about barriers to accessibility for seniors.

“Our members had concerns about frail seniors being unable to retrieve their mail on their own, as well as poor security for important mail like cheques and bank statements, paper copies of which, our members still receive. Most important though, our members feel their taxes, which have been building and maintaining this country for so many years, can be spent on delivering the mail, a basic function of a civilized society, without breaking the bank. We have been very vocal in this view and it is with satisfaction we see the executives at Canada Post taking a cue from those who are not only their customers, but their employers” said Susan Eng, Executive VP of CARP

Canada Post announced that it is suspending the installation of the community mailboxes: https://www.canadapost.ca/web/en/blogs/announcements/details.page?article=2015/10/26/statement_from_canad&cattype=announcements&cat=newsreleases

All opposition parties, including the incoming government, campaigned on restoring door-to-door mail delivery. http://www.carp.ca/2015/10/14/ballot-box-issues-restoring-door-to-door-mail-delivery/

 

“CARP members will welcome this move by Canada Post to suspend installation of community mailboxes which was imposed with no consultation and barreled forward despite community opposition. This is clearly in response to the election promise made by the incoming government to restore home delivery and while welcome, should also mean that home mail delivery will be restored. Just suspending the unilateral installation of the mailboxes without keeping or restoring home delivery would be a double injury.” added Susan Eng

 

DETAILED FINDINGS

The majority agree door-to-door mail delivery is a worthwhile service which should be maintained (56%).
Do you agree or disagree that door-to-door mail delivery is an important national public service that should not be eliminated?

AGREE 56%
   Agree strongly    31%
   Agree    25%
DISAGREE 40%
   Disagree    25%
   Disagree strongly    15%
DON’T KNOW 4%

 

The most serious consequence of ending local mail delivery is seen to be frail seniors unable to get their own mail (49%), followed by the feeling we pay for it and should receive it (13%).
What is the most serious potential consequence of eliminating door-to-door mail delivery?

Frail seniors unable to get mail 46%
Service our taxes pay for and we deserve 13%
Community mailboxes will be crime/litter magnets 8%
Carriers can’t check on shut-ins 3%
Bills/cheques will be less secure 3%
OTHER/DON’T KNOW 6%
NO NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES TO CANCELLING 21%

 

The same majority agree that ending local mail delivery could be an infringement of charter rights (56%).
Canada Post has committed to ending door-to-door mail delivery across Canada, a change applying to all Canadians. Yet not all Canadians are equally able to get their own mail from community mailboxes, including the frail elderly and the mobility challenged. Do you agree or disagree this policy infringes the Charter rights of these Canadians to be treated equally regardless of age or disability?

AGREE 58%
   Agree strongly    29%
   Agree    29%
DISAGREE 34%
   Disagree    22%
   Disagree strongly    12%
DON’T KNOW 8%

 

CARP is a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization committed to advocating for social change that will bring financial security, equitable access to health care and freedom from discrimination. CARP seeks to ensure that the marketplace serves the needs and expectations of our generation and provides value-added benefits, products and services to our members. Through our network of chapters across Canada, CARP is dedicated to building a sense of community and shared values among our members in support of CARP’s mission. CARP has 300,000 members nationwide.

 

For further information, please contact:

Sarah Park   416.607.2471
Director, Strategic Communications
[email protected]

Michael Nicin   416.607.2479
Director of Policy
[email protected]

Anna Sotnykova  416.607.2475
Media & Communications Coordinator
[email protected]

or visit our website: www.carp.ca
Follow @CARPAdvocacy on Twitter: Click here and add us!