Councillors ask Canada Post to keep them in the loop about delivery
By Bill Rea

The future of rural mail delivery is not clear throughout Canada, including in Caledon.

But Town councillors Tuesday told representatives of Canada Post that things will go a lot better if they are kept informed and allowed to have input on what's in the works.

Scott Lewis, communications manager with the Crown corporation, explained the nature of delivery is changing, with growing populations and increased traffic creating safety issues for those who carry mail along rural routes.

Early in 2004, rural mail carriers became employees of Canada Post, he explained, adding the corporation was obliged to look into any issues that might involve employee safety. Since then, Human Resources Skills Development Canada has handed down more than 40 rulings regarding routes deemed dangerous, and one of them is in Caledon.

He also pointed out Canada Post was directed by the government in December 2006 to come up with a plan to restore and maintain rural deliveries, to the extent possible. To that end, Lewis said the corporation has been working on a comprehensive study and plan.

He said there are about 843,000 rural mailboxes in Canada, representing about six per cent of Canada Post's 14 million delivery points. The status of all these mailboxes are to be reviewed in the current study, Lewis said, adding it will take until the end of 2009 to complete the job.

They are using a Traffic Safety Assessment, employing a panel of safety experts, to come up with a tool for determining safety risks at these spots, looking into such factors as the number of lanes, shoulder width, sight distances, the time it takes to merge back into traffic, etc. He said they are also looking at trying to improved the safety of the vehicles, through such measures as flashing amber lights, reflective markings, etc.

Lewis told councillors than since these mail carriers became Canada Post employees, there have been more than 70 traffic accidents involving them, including one in Caledon. These incidents have resulted in three deaths.

He also stressed they are anxious to make sure residents get their mail, as he tried to assure council these changes are not being made just to cut costs. Assessing the situations with all these mailboxes is going to be costly, he pointed out, adding it's requiring a lot of work on the parts of a lot of people. On the other hand, he pointed out they are also responsible for workplace safety.

Councillor Richard Paterak reminded Lewis of the safety of people trying to collect their mail. He was concerned about the safety of seniors having to drive to community mailboxes in all types of weather. "There are other dynamics to the safety issue," he maintained.

Paterak also suggested a solution might be to have mail delivered in right-sided drive vehicles.

Lewis said that is being looked into, agreeing it would help in some places. But he pointed out such vehicles will not help in situations where they can't get completely off the travelled portion of the road.

Paterak also pointed out there are rural roads in the United States that are narrower than the ones in Canada, but this doesn't seem to be an issue south of the border.

A well, he suggested some people might be willing to accept their delivery only three times per week, if that would help. "There are other ways of looking at it," he maintained.

Paterak also brought up environmental issues, pointing out community mailboxes in rural areas will require a lot more car trips as people drive to get their mail, than the one vehicle making the deliveries. Lewis wasn't convinced that was such a big deal, pointing out people would pick up their mail in the course of doing other errands, but that didn't satisfy Paterak. "That's not on for rural people," he declared.

Lewis also told him there are safety concerns being raised for mail carriers in the States. It just started a little later than it did in Canada. He also reiterated they want to maintain the rural deliveries, pointing out it's what people want, and cheaper for the corporation too. He said if possible, they could look at moving the rural boxes short distances to improve the safety, or arranging them in clusters. The community boxes are considered a last resort, although Lewis pointed out there are some people who prefer them. These boxes are locked, so they are deemed as being more secure.

Councillor Allan Thompson was keen on the idea of right-side drive vehicles, pointing out there are garbage and recycling trucks like that in service.

He also criticized the track record of Canada Post when it comes to keeping customers informed of what's going on. People are angry, he remarked, adding he's heard Dufferin - Caledon MP David Tilson has been getting a lot of complaints. Thompson said a common problem he's been hearing about deal with seniors who have their mail in bottom boxes, obliging them to stoop down to get it. "Why can't they have them at eye-level?" he wondered.

He urged that the corporation work with the Town when looking into these community boxes. He pointed out there have been some positive sounding proposals to put these boxes on leased private property.

Thompson also observed it's important that these boxes be well lit and visible.

"We need to really think this thing through," he commented, "and we're willing to work with you."

In addition, Thompson suggested if there must be community mailboxes, there should be recycling bins nearby so people don't just drop flyers on the ground. "Unfortunately, we have ignorant people too, who don't want the flyers and chuck it," he remarked.

"We are definitely interested in working with the Town," Lewis replied, adding they want feedback. He added they wouldn't be able to provide the recycling facilities Thompson was calling for. The corporation is paid to see things like flyers get delivered, so it has to suppose people will at least take them home. He added they have to rely on people being environmentally responsible.

Councillor Doug Beffort observed that many people see change as difficult, and they don't like surprises. He commented on the need to discuss other options, including using right-side drive vehicles that are more clearly marked.

He cited the example of Highway 10, north of Old Base Line Road, where residents were told they would no longer get their mailed delivered. Conveying that word could have been handled better, he argued. He also pointed out that having these people travel to the community boxes will mean between 50 and 100 additional left turns on the highway. He called that "a real cause for danger."

Beffort also pointed out there might be some residents along the highway who have rural boxes that are perfectly safe. Lewis assured him these people should be able to keep their deliveries, adding if things could be improved by shifting their boxes a bit, that be the first option.

Beffort reiterated that dialogue with the Town would have been more helpful. "This is a concern of many of our residents," he remarked, pointing out many of these people had always known rural delivery. Changing that deserved better explanations.

"It's going to be upsetting to a lot of people to lose their mail boxes," Councillor Gord McClure added.

Beffort wondered if there was a connection between the start of the complaints and the carriers becoming employees of Canada Post, Lewis didn't think there was, pointing out the complaints didn't start for a year and a half after they became employees.

Mayor Marolyn Morrison commented that the bottom line is the safety of both residents and employees, but she pointed out the corporation has to take responsibility for the community boxes it sets up, such as making sure there are pull-off areas, lighting and snow clearing. She added part of the safety obligation is to the residents, since they are Canada Post's clients. "Without the clients, you don't have a job," she remarked.