Door-to-door mail delivery will no longer face cuts, following a federal Liberal government announcement this week on renewing the Canada Post service.
However, Sidney was not part of that announcement and will not see door-to-door delivery return.
Sidney lost door-to-door mail delivery service in 2015, as Canada Post replaced its seven routes with community mailboxes under direction from the previous Conservative government. Sidney was one of three communities in B.C. to lose door-to-door mail delivery at that time, as did Campbell River also on Vancouver Island.
Jessica Dempster, President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers Local 850 in Victoria, says the LiberalsB次元官网网址� Jan. 24 announcement to renew delivery service and end conversions to community mailboxes B次元官网网址� but not to re-instate it in communities that lost it B次元官网网址� was bittersweet.
B次元官网网址淪idney was one of the last in the country (to lose door-to-door service),B次元官网网址� she said, noting it occurred just as the government changed and the Liberals promised to review services at Canada Post.
The postal workers who worked those routes in Sidney did not lose their jobs, but were given work elsewhere in the region.
Dempster said this weekB次元官网网址檚 announcement was disappointing, especially in the wake of the unionB次元官网网址檚 negotiations with government to try to have SidneyB次元官网网址檚 service restored. She said when it was stopped in favour of community mailboxes, there was worry of its impact on what is generally an older community. The union at the time started a campaign to try to have the service restored, which included petitions.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just disappointing, after all that hard work, the lobbying didnB次元官网网址檛 pay off.B次元官网网址�
Dempster said other communities in Greater Victoria B次元官网网址� Langford, Colwood, View Royal and Esquimalt B次元官网网址� were next on the chopping block after Sidney in 2015, but were saved from that fate. She said there are community mailboxes in a variety of areas B次元官网网址� especially more recent residential developments B次元官网网址� in Greater Victoria. However, most of the region managed to keep its door-to-door mail delivery service.
Dempster added the governmentB次元官网网址檚 new vision for Canada Post going forward is positive B次元官网网址� as they have announced service improvements. But she said as the union and government sit down at the bargaining table this year, restoring door-to-door service in places like Sidney will be on the unionB次元官网网址檚 agenda.
CUPW stated in a media release that there are more than 800,000 people who no longer have door-to-door mail service in Canada.
Ottawa stated in its decision that not only is it terminating community mailbox conversions, it pans to enhance delivery services for seniors and those with mobility challenges.
The full report can be .
editor@peninsulanewsreview.com
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