Montreal-area mayors are thrilled with the decision by Canada Post to reconsider its move to stop home mail delivery.
They say the move would have had a negative impact on seniors.
The question remains, however: What happens next -- especially for those who just switched to community mailboxes?
During the election campaign, the Liberals sent a note to several mayors including Laval Mayor Marc Demers, stating that the party was staunchly against stopping home mail delivery.
And, if elected, they promised they would cancel the Conservatives' plan to offer community mailboxes.
Canada Post announced Monday it would postpone the plan to convert door-to-door mail delivery to community mailboxes, but Demers doesn't understand why the Crown corporation installed so many new community boxes during the election campaign
“Imagine the money that would be wasted if they have to undo what they did?” he said.
In spite of the cost, Westmount Mayor Peter Trent said home delivery must return.
“In my view, they have a moral obligation to go back a bit, obviously. They can't go back five or ten years,” he said.
If Canada Post wants to save money, there are other ways, he said.
“They could save more money if they went to delivery let's say twice or three times a week than completely getting rid of home delivery,” he said.
It still remains to be seen if the new government will get rid of recently installed community mailboxes, but the postal workers’ union is pleased that Canada Post is no longer adding new boxes.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said there has never been a need to get rid of home delivery, because Canada Post made a profit of just under $200 million last year.
