VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Canada’s national postal service has launched efforts to eliminate door-to-door mail delivery across the country.
The government-owned mail carrier has started discussions with 13 communities to convert approximately 136,000 addresses from home delivery to community mailbox systems, where multiple households share a centralized pickup location. This marks the beginning of a five-year plan to eliminate home delivery for roughly 4 million addresses nationwide.
“It’s a process that can take six to nine months from beginning to end,” Canada Post spokesman Jon Hamilton said in an interview. “Nothing will happen right away.”
According to Hamilton, the postal service will collaborate with municipal planners and local neighborhoods to identify optimal locations for the community mailbox installations.
Hamilton noted that among the 17.6 million addresses currently served by Canada Post, three-quarters already receive mail through some form of centralized delivery system. These residents either use community mailboxes, post office boxes, or live in apartment and condominium buildings.
The elimination of door-to-door service would generate annual savings of approximately CDN $400 million (US$291.96 million) for Canada Post, Hamilton explained.
The postal service has been experiencing severe financial difficulties. In November, Canada Post reported losses exceeding CDN $1 billion (US$73 million) for the first nine months of 2025.
Hamilton emphasized that the delivery modifications would not result in employee layoffs. “This will reduce the number of letter carriers. They will have work, but it will be elsewhere,” he stated.
Canada Post’s workforce currently includes approximately 60,000 employees.
The initiative to eliminate home delivery is moving forward following discussions with union representatives, according to a corporate statement.
Starting Monday, members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers will vote on whether to approve new contract agreements with the national mail service.
Workers have operated without a new contract since November 2023, with the union conducting two nationwide strikes and additional disruptions throughout the contract negotiation period.
One resident from an affected community expressed support for the change.
“It won’t actually bother me at all,” said Liane Beadon, 44, who lives in North Vancouver, British Columbia, and works remotely from home. “I think it’s a smart move in order to preserve having mail delivery and keeping costs low for Canadians.”
