ST. PAUL – Mail theft is among the concerns that Town of St. Paul council will raise to the commission examining the future of Canada Post.
After Federal Minister of Labour Steven MacKinnon ordered the Canada Industrial Relations Board to resume Canada Post’s mail service in December 2024, he also created an Industrial Inquiry Commission to examine the future of the public post office under Section 108 of the Canada Labour Code.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) is urging municipalities to provide their input to the commission, as part of the commission’s public review. “CUPW would like to ensure that the view of municipalities are considered,” reads a Jan. 16 CUPW letter to Town council.
“During the last public review on the mandate of Canada Post in 2016, the active engagement of municipalities was critical in the decision to maintain door-to-door delivery and immediately stop the further rollout of community mailboxes. However, there is nothing to stop the Commission from making recommendations to bring that back or to suggest other cutbacks,” reads the letter.
Town council made a motion to send a letter to the commission, highlighting the importance of having a public post office in Town, as well as challenges the community is facing related to Canada Post.
“We do not want Canada Post to close here,” said Mayor Maureen Miller during a council meeting on Feb. 10.
But the Town also wants to raise concerns, including how to address mail theft in the community. CAO Steven Jeffery said, “It is far too easy for someone to just take a pry bar,” to steal contents from mailboxes.
Miller said sometimes mailbox locks remain, with the box pried open, and contents are stolen.
Miller added she has also heard complaints from some of the businesses located along Main Street regarding delivery of mail.
“Anybody [with] T0A 3A0 has complex delivery process,” which she suggested could complicate delivery to local businesses.
