Reader is 'going postal'

Enough is enough! Canada Post has again impacted my mail service. Over the past 2-3 years we have seen mail sorting moved to Brampton which impacted the quality of service. Next they told us that rural routes (RRs) were no good and everyone had to change all of our mailing addresses, presumably to fix issues of moving the sorting to Brampton. Some time later we were told that we could no longer use L0N and we would lose our identity as Caledon East. Again we had to change our mailing address and they graciously gave us six months to do so, but we still had to do it.

We were also told at that time that packages needed to be picked up in Inglewood, not Caledon East. What's up with that? I was RR 4 Caledon East, not RR 4 Inglewood. I now have to travel 15 kilometers not 9. And now since the Canada Post contract driver had an accident we all have to go to a group mailbox. Canada Post has indicated that they can no longer deliver to my rural mail box due to traffic speeds and volumes and their inability to stop their vehicles completely off the road.

What about our safety? We now go from one person who should have had a properly marked vehicle delivering mail in off peak hours, to 50 to 60 individuals traveling to King Street and Torbram Road, where the speeds and volumes are much greater than along Torbram and at all hours of the day. I also should mention that 100% of these people will have to do u-turns or drive on the wrong side of the shoulder to avoid a u-turn.

Not to mention the environmental impacts to the community with all those cars that have to travel there, idle while they get their mail and drive home. Group mailboxes may work in compact urban communities, but they do not work in rural setting. What about winter time snow removal or women at night picking up their mail in a remote location and without light?

What about our safety? High speeds and high volumes are a condition on almost all of the roads throughout Caledon. Caledon council recently reduced the posted rate of speed on Torbram Road to 70 km-h versus 80 km-h. Is this the tip of the iceberg? Does Canada Post mean to take away services to all of Caledon's rural customers?

I should not have of used the word customer! Canada Post does not believe in customer service. Not once was I asked for my opinion prior to the changes. Not once did receive a benefit due to the changes brought about by Canada Post. After Canada Post notified us of the accident and the moving of mail pickup to the Caledon East station temporally, I called Canada Post to get clarification and was told that once a decision was made, they would call me. Unfortunately they did not call back and have not returned any of my calls since. Prior to the group mailbox notification had to pick up my mail in Caledon East, but Canada Post delivered the notification of the change from Caledon East to a group mailbox into my Torbram Road mailbox. Do not they not know that my mail is being delivered to Caledon East?

I have neighbours who did not know about the group mailbox since they do not go to Caledon East every day to pick up their mail.

Ok now I am on the group mailbox and go to pick-up my mail. Turns out the key and box I was given was for a neighbour across the street. So do I leave it there, no! I do Canada Post's job and deliver it! My next door neighbour had the same issue and her key can open 2 locked boxes!

I am drawing a line in the sand and will attempt to claw back some of the services Canada Post is taking away from us at RR Caledon East (Torbram Road). Please take the time to call your MP David Tilson at 905857-6080 or 519-941-1832 and e-mail tilsod@parl.gc.ca. The Office of the Canada Post Ombudsman can be written to at P.O. Box 90026, Ottawa ON, K1V 1J8.

You can also the local Canada Post representative at 905-495-5056, but they do not return messages. Beware of the long message on the line. Listen to it before leaving yours or call Canada Post at 1-800-267-1177 Option 1 then Option 20. Also call our regional and local councillors David Lyons 905-838-2689 david.lyons@caledon.ca, and Allan Thompson 905873-6811 or allan.thompson@ caledon.ca but they may not be able to help.

Enough is enough. Canada Post works for us, not the other way around.

All those affected now, take action and the others waiting for Canada Post to degrade their service take action, too. Write, call, fax and e-mail. Protest this over reaction and the underhanded manner our government has treated their so-called customers.

Jim Cassell RR 4 Caledon East