Everything you need to know as Canada Post considers ending home delivery

Canada Post is reaching out to bargaining agents to discuss changes such as switching addresses to community mailboxes.

Canada Post is moving ahead with a restructuring plan that could eliminate home mail delivery for approximately four million Canadian households.

Here’s what you need to know.

Is Canada Post ending home delivery?

On Monday, Canada Post indicated it was moving ahead with a money-saving restructuring plan that includes several proposed changes, such as “converting the remaining addresses that still receive delivery at the door to community mailboxes.”

When will Canada Post end home delivery?

Canada Post says it will consult with bargaining agents, municipal officials and other key stakeholders before proposed changes are enacted. That means it is still unclear if or when home delivery will actually end.

Why would Canada Post end home delivery?

In the fall, the federal government proposed replacing home delivery with community mailboxes as a way to save money at Canada Post, which has accumulated more than $5 billion in losses since 2018. Ottawa says the change could generate close to $400 million in annual savings at the Crown corporation.

Who is against ending home delivery?

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers have repeatedly pushed back against the changes proposed by the federal government, saying they will jeopardize jobs and disproportionately impact rural and remote communities that rely on Canada Post services. Disability and seniors advocates have also criticized the proposed changes.

Does Canada Post deliver to your house?

Three-quarters of Canadians already receive mail through community, apartment or rural mailboxes, according to Public Services and Procurement Canada. Representing approximately four million addresses, the remaining quarter of Canadians still receive home delivery.

Starting in 2014, about 830,000 Canadian households were converted from home delivery to community mailboxes before the widely unpopular change was scrapped in 2015.

Is it cheaper to ship with Canada Post or other companies?

Sending mail and parcels with Canada Post is typically cheaper than using private courier companies such as FedEx, UPS, DHL, Canpar and Purolator, which is 91 per cent owned by Canada Post.

When should I expect my mail from Canada Post?

Canada Post currently delivers mail and parcels to Canadian homes and businesses daily from Monday to Friday. Domestic delivery standards range from two business days for neighbourhood mail to up to 13 business days for delivery to northern regions and remote communities. Canada Post has not said if it is considering reducing the frequency of mail delivery in order to save money.