Canada Post taking steps to stop home mail delivery

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Category: Lifestyle/Entertainment

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Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. standalone / ˈstænd əˌloʊn / (adj.) – relating to something that is separate and independent; not attached to something larger and able to function on its own
    Example:

    The guest house is a standalone building located behind the main house.


  2. centralized / ˈsɛn trəˌlaɪzd / (adj.) – relating to a system in which everything is brought together and controlled in one main location or by one main authority
    Example:

    A centralized computer network allows the IT team to update all the office laptops at once.


  3. condominium / ˌkɒn dəˈmɪn i əm / (n.) – a large building or a group of buildings where each apartment is owned by a different person rather than rented
    Example:

    They bought a condominium in the city because it is close to their office.


  4. staggering / ˈstæg ə rɪŋ / (adj.) – very large, shocking, or difficult to believe
    Example:

    It took a staggering amount of time, nearly ten years, to finish writing the book.


  5. remotely / rɪˈmoʊt li / (adv.) – in a way that involves doing something from a distance
    Example:

    During the pandemic, many employees stayed home and performed their duties remotely.


Article

Read the text below.

The government-owned corporation that delivers mail in Canada is taking steps to stop home delivery. Canada Post is initiating talks with 13 communities to begin converting about 136,000 addresses from door-to-door delivery to community mailboxes, a standalone unit with designated space for each of the multiple residences it serves. It is the first step in a move that will end home delivery for about four million addresses over the next five years.


“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,” Hamilton said. Canada Post will work with city planners and neighborhoods to determine the best locations for community mailboxes.


Hamilton said of the 17.6 million addresses Canada Post currently serves, 75% already have some form of centralized delivery. Some people use community mailboxes or a post office box, while others live in an apartment or condominium.


Hamilton said eliminating home delivery would save Canada Post about $400 million Canadian ($291.96 million) a year. It has been facing staggering financial losses. Canada Post said in November its losses in the first nine months of 2025 topped $1 billion Canadian ($731 million).


Hamilton said Canada Post would not lay off workers due to the delivery changes. “This will reduce the number of letter carriers. They will have work, but it will be elsewhere,” he said. Canada Post currently employs around 60,000 people.


The process to end home delivery is beginning after meetings with union officials, the corporation said in a statement.


A resident of one of the affected communities said losing her home mail delivery wouldn’t be an issue. “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.”


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Canada Post is replacing door-to-door delivery with community mailboxes to save costs, which means residents must now walk to a central location to get their mail. What do you think are the pros and cons of this move for Canada Post? What are its pros and cons for residents receiving mail? Discuss.
  • How is mail delivered in your country? Do you think your system is effective? Why or why not? Would you prefer the convenience of home delivery or the security of a community mailbox? Why? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Canada Post is working with city planners and neighborhoods to decide where to place new mailboxes. How important is it for an organization to talk to residents and other groups before making changes to their community? What could happen if the public and these organizations are ignored during this process? Discuss.
  • When a city changes, like moving mailboxes or changing public spaces, it affects everyone’s daily routine. Imagine you are a city planner. What public space do you think needs to be added to or improved in your city/town? Do you think residents will like this idea? Why or why not? How can you convince residents in your city/town to agree with your plan? Discuss.