An Ontario court says Canada Post can put up its new community mailboxes – wherever it wants.

The case saw the Crown corporation locking horns with the city of Hamilton over the issue.

The court found a city bylaw – requiring Canada Post to obtain a $200 permit per site – to install boxes on municipal land, was “inapplicable and inoperative.”

Hamilton brought in the bylaw after local opposition to Canada Post’s installing of the new mailboxes – as the corporation does away with door-to-door home mail delivery.

Canada Post had argued that the bylaw infringed on federal rules granting it final say – over the location of mail receptacles – and said the move to end home mail delivery is necessary to its financial survival – as more Canadians switch to electronic means of communication.

A judge said Canada Post is “entitled to make decisions which go to the benefit of its survival.”

The case was closely watched by municipalities across the country – and by advocacy groups including Carp: a new vision of aging.