I spent last Thursday at a community center in Nepean where Julie Simpson, a local bank employee, told me what many Canadians are feeling: “I don’t check my mailbox every day anymore, but when I get my mom’s prescription, it matters that it arrives on time.”
This conversation might become increasingly relevant as Canadians face another potential shift in how we receive our mail. According to a newly released report from Canada Post, the Crown corporation is considering ending daily home delivery service across the country as part of a broader cost-cutting strategy.
The report, prepared by Canada Post’s executive team for the federal government, suggests Canadians might receive mail just three days per week in urban areas and twice weekly in rural communities. This proposal represents one of the most significant changes to mail service since community mailboxes were introduced in 2015.
“We’re looking at all options to ensure Canada Post remains financially viable while meeting the evolving needs of Canadians,” said Suzy McDonald, spokesperson for Canada Post, when I called for comment. “The reality is that letter mail volumes have dropped 55% since 2006, and that decline continues each year.”
The financial pressures are undeniable. Canada Post reported a $548 million loss in its latest quarterly report, citing increased operational costs and the continued decline in traditional mail volumes. Package delivery, while growing, hasn’t offset these losses despite the e-commerce boom.
During a visit to Winnipeg last month, I spoke with Rick Thompson, who has delivered mail for 27 years. “Most houses I deliver to, their mailboxes are stuffed with flyers and bills that sit for days,” Thompson said. “But I also know which customers are waiting for important documents or medications. Those folks would be hurt by these changes.”
The proposed reduction would put Canada among several countries rethinking mail delivery frequency. Australia Post implemented alternate-day delivery in 2015, while some European countries have already moved to three-day delivery schedules. However, unlike those countries, Canada’s vast geography presents unique challenges.
Gordon Edwards, a policy analyst with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, told me that while the financial arguments make sense on paper, they ignore crucial social implications.
“Mail service isn’t just about economics – it’s about connectivity,” Edwards said. “For elderly Canadians, those with mobility issues, and people in remote communities, mail delivery is an essential service that connects them to healthcare, government benefits, and family.”
In Yellowknife, where I traveled earlier this year covering territorial funding disputes, Mayor Rebecca Cox expressed concern about the potential impact on northern communities. “When we’re already facing higher costs for everything and fewer services than southern Canada, reducing mail delivery feels like another erosion of basic infrastructure,” she said.
The proposal would require approval from the federal government, which oversees Canada Post as a Crown corporation. When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Minister of Public Services and Procurement Jean-Yves Duclos said the government is “reviewing the report but remains committed to ensuring all Canadians have access to reliable postal services.”
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has already voiced strong opposition. Union president Jan Simpson called the proposal “a direct attack on good jobs and reliable service,” predicting the loss of up to 15,000 positions nationwide if implemented.
During a pandemic-era reporting assignment in Val-d’Or, Quebec, I witnessed firsthand how postal workers became de facto community support staff, checking on elderly residents and delivering critical supplies. This informal safety net would be strained by reduced delivery frequency.
According to Statistics Canada data, approximately 32% of Canadians over 75 years old don’t have regular internet access, making postal mail their primary connection to government services, banking information, and healthcare communications.
The potential changes would build upon the controversial 2013 Five-Point Action Plan, which attempted to end door-to-door delivery for 5 million Canadian households. That plan was partially halted after the 2015 federal election, but not before 840,000 households were converted to community mailboxes.
Dr. Samir Gupta, a respirologist at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, raised health concerns about the proposal. “For patients receiving medications by mail, particularly in rural areas, delivery delays could mean interruptions in treatment,” he explained. “During winter months especially, asking elderly patients to check community mailboxes less frequently could mean exposure to hazardous conditions.”
Back in Nepean, Simpson told me she worries about her mother. “Mom gets her pension cheque and heart medication through the mail. She can barely make it to the community mailbox now – if she has to guess which days to check, it becomes one more burden.”
The report suggests implementation could begin as early as next spring, following public consultations and regulatory review. Canada Post has indicated that certain priority mail, including parcels and express items, would still maintain daily delivery schedules.
As Canadians join the debate in coming months, the fundamental question seems clear: Is mail delivery primarily a business that should operate according to market principles, or an essential service that requires public support regardless of profitability?
For Julie Simpson’s mother and millions of other Canadians, the answer might determine not just when their mail arrives, but whether essential services remain accessible to all.
