Councillor says community mailbox plan never made sense

THUNDER BAY -- A local councillor is welcoming Canada Post's news that it's suspending its plan to move ahead with community mailboxes.

The organization announced Monday afternoon that it was halting a controversial plan to end door-to-door mail delivery. The news stops the conversion for around 460,000 homes that were set to move to community mailboxes over the next few months.

Coun. Paul Pugh convinced city council to join other municipalities condemning the community mailbox plan. A new Liberal government seems to have changed Canada Post's feelings on the issue.

Justin Trudeau had pledged to reverse the community mailbox plan if elected.

"They certainly didn't have that attitude before. They were very arrogant when dealing with municipalities that didn't want them," he said.
"Now we have a new Prime Minister who actually cares about what people want."

The city still plans to send letters opposing the now-suspended plan to end door-to-door service. Pugh said the plan never made any sense given the fact that Canada Post is profitable.

"There was never any excuse for it," he said.