Randall Garrison doesnB次元官网网址檛 see the expansion of Canada PostB次元官网网址檚 community mailbox program as being B次元官网网址渁 done deal.B次元官网网址�
The Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca MP met with concerned members of the public on Saturday at Pilgrim Coffee House in Colwood, to speak with them about the continued implementation of the controversial program on the West Shore.
B次元官网网址淓verybody hates this idea,B次元官网网址� Garrison said of the program, which aims to replace home delivery for hundreds of homes with large centralized mailboxes. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been talking to people about it for a long time; on every doorstep and during every conversation, people tell me they just hate it.B次元官网网址�
He cited one particular citizen who is awaiting hip surgery and has mobility issues, as a resident who will be unable to walk to and from the community box.
Garrison claimed that the w
oman was told she could apply to remain on home delivery, but was denied.
That, he said, shows the process for implementation is flawed because Canada Post only accepts the feedback B次元官网网址渢hat gives them the answers they want to hear.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淎nd itB次元官网网址檚 not only the inconvenience of it, but also the safety issues in regards to where they put these boxes, as well as the security of the mail itself.B次元官网网址�
He pointed to the theft of two entire community mailboxes in December in Surrey as an example of the lack of security. In that incident, the large side-by-side units were uprooted and hauled away by thieves. It was estimated that mail from 30 homes was stolen along with the boxes that day.
Garrison also disputed Canada PostB次元官网网址檚 assertion that no positions will be lost in the transition to community boxes.
, Canada Post spokesperson Anick Losier told the Gazette, B次元官网网址渁ny reduction in the number of positions (will) be done by attrition.B次元官网网址�
Garrison said that is profoundly different from, B次元官网网址渘o positions will be eliminated.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淐anada Post likes to say theyB次元官网网址檙e not cutting any jobs because of this,B次元官网网址� he said, B次元官网网址渨hich may be technically true, but theyB次元官网网址檙e certainly not creating any more when the people thereB次元官网网址檙e going to move around retire. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the equivalent of eliminating those good-paying, family-supporting jobs from our community.B次元官网网址�
In Langford alone, the number of community mailboxes serviced by Victoria Depot 4 on Station Avenue is set to almost double this year, from 5,037 addresses to 9,525. The process, including prospective locations for the boxes, is currently in the consultation stage with the various municipalities.
Garrison says that if the government changes before the program is fully implemented B次元官网网址� and thereB次元官网网址檚 an election coming before they could possibly complete the process B次元官网网址� thereB次元官网网址檚 nothing legislated saying it would have to continue.
