Coun. Mitchell Tweel is calling on Canada Post to postpone the transition to community mailboxes in Charlottetown.
Tweel said he’s getting dozens of calls from angry residents and it’s time to put the brakes on the initiative until after the federal election, which is widely expected to be held sometime this year.
Tweel has been asking council to demand a meeting with Lisa Raitt, the federal minister responsible for the Crown corporation.
However, Coun. Terry Bernard, chairman of intergovernmental affairs, doesn’t think such a request from council would meet with any success.
He did point out that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities is doing what it can.
Council did send a letter to Raitt’s office voicing its displeasure with the decision to replace door-to-door delivery with community mailboxes.
“The federal government is moving ahead with this initiative,’’ Bernard said. “Municipalities are not happy with it and that’s why we sent the letter to the federal government.’’
The Ward 4 councillor said Friday that he’s been told Canada Post will be placing 310 community mailboxes across Charlottetown but The Guardian wasn’t immediately able to confirm that with the Crown corporation.
All of council is getting updates from Canada Post, the latest indicating that the corporation is looking for different locations and will be working with municipalities to ensure those locations are suitable.
The Guardian spoke with one resident this week who said two Canada Post employees knocked on his door recently and informed him they are looking to put one of the community boxes right outside his house and he’s not happy about it.
The resident didn’t want to comment on the record just yet.
He sent a letter off to the corporation and wants to see what feedback he gets first.
The resident said people will be getting their mail right outside his house and feels that it’s a violation of privacy.
He added that it will hurt the value of his property, too.
Canada Post announced in November that it will end door-to-door delivery in many areas of Charlottetown and Stratford later this year.
The change affects almost 10,000 addresses.
The change does not affect seniors’ residences, apartments or condos where mail is delivered to the lobby. There is also no change for businesses within business corridors or with high volumes of mail.
Canada Post says residents are currently being consulted about where the boxes might be located in terms of safety and convenience.
Anick Losier, who handles communications for Canada Post, couldn’t be reached on Friday but has told The Guardian that the corporation would be more than happy to meet with council.
Coun. Mitchell Tweel is calling on Canada Post to postpone the transition to community mailboxes in Charlottetown.
Tweel said he’s getting dozens of calls from angry residents and it’s time to put the brakes on the initiative until after the federal election, which is widely expected to be held sometime this year.
Tweel has been asking council to demand a meeting with Lisa Raitt, the federal minister responsible for the Crown corporation.
However, Coun. Terry Bernard, chairman of intergovernmental affairs, doesn’t think such a request from council would meet with any success.
He did point out that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities is doing what it can.
Council did send a letter to Raitt’s office voicing its displeasure with the decision to replace door-to-door delivery with community mailboxes.
“The federal government is moving ahead with this initiative,’’ Bernard said. “Municipalities are not happy with it and that’s why we sent the letter to the federal government.’’
The Ward 4 councillor said Friday that he’s been told Canada Post will be placing 310 community mailboxes across Charlottetown but The Guardian wasn’t immediately able to confirm that with the Crown corporation.
All of council is getting updates from Canada Post, the latest indicating that the corporation is looking for different locations and will be working with municipalities to ensure those locations are suitable.
The Guardian spoke with one resident this week who said two Canada Post employees knocked on his door recently and informed him they are looking to put one of the community boxes right outside his house and he’s not happy about it.
The resident didn’t want to comment on the record just yet.
He sent a letter off to the corporation and wants to see what feedback he gets first.
The resident said people will be getting their mail right outside his house and feels that it’s a violation of privacy.
He added that it will hurt the value of his property, too.
Canada Post announced in November that it will end door-to-door delivery in many areas of Charlottetown and Stratford later this year.
The change affects almost 10,000 addresses.
The change does not affect seniors’ residences, apartments or condos where mail is delivered to the lobby. There is also no change for businesses within business corridors or with high volumes of mail.
Canada Post says residents are currently being consulted about where the boxes might be located in terms of safety and convenience.
Anick Losier, who handles communications for Canada Post, couldn’t be reached on Friday but has told The Guardian that the corporation would be more than happy to meet with council.
