The day after Canada Post won a legal battle with the city of Hamilton over placement of community mailboxes, mayors in the Greater Toronto Area have received an open letter from the Zoomers’ group CARP – A New Vision of Aging.

CARP’s Susan Eng says ”mayors in many cities are making this a priority and it is time that the mayors and city councils of GTA do the same.”

CARP members across Canada are concerned about the effect the phasing out of home mail delivery will have on the health and independence of older Zoomers and those with disabilities and mobility issues.

Here is that letter.

June 12, 2015

Dear GTA Mayors and City Councils,

CARP is calling on you to push for a moratorium on Canada Post’s plan to build community mail boxes in place of door-to-door delivery. Community mailboxes are being built on city-owned land, and as city mayors and councilors, you will want to ensure that your resident’s concerns are addressed.

CARP has opposed from the start Canada Post’s cessation of home mail delivery. CARP members in your cities are concerned about the effect the changes would have on the well-being and independence of older Canadians and people with disabilities and mobility challenges.

Door-to-door mail delivery is essential for many Canadians and provides added value, especially to home-bound individuals, to whom the letter carrier may be the only point of human contact for some days. Our members are concerned that the widespread objections to the cessation have not been heard or addressed by Canada Post and municipalities.

Some cities across Canada have taken action and are standing against Canada Post’s plans.  The City of Hamilton is arguing for greater local input in determining the site of each community mailbox. Montreal area mayors are also voicing residents’ concerns and pushing for a moratorium on the community mailbox plan. CARP is calling on you to join your fellow mayors and councilors to take action against the cessation of home mail delivery.

CARP is a national, non-profit, non-partisan organization committed to improving the quality of life of all Canadians as we age with 300,000 members across Canada and 60 local chapters. Through our network of chapters across Canada, including those in the GTA, CARP is dedicated to building a sense of community and shared values among our members in support of CARP’s mission.

We will look forward to hearing from you and working with you to oppose Canada Posts’ cessation of home delivery. As a follow up, we will also be putting you in touch with the chairs of our local chapters in your respective cities who would be please to work with you.

Sincerely,

Susan Eng, VP Advocacy