Canada Post to review 800,000 rural mailboxes
Last Updated: Friday, October 27, 2006 | 11:38 AM ET
CBC News
Canada Post will assess more than 800,000 rural mailboxes across the country to determine whether they meet new safety standards established by the Crown corporation.
The move comes after complaints from mail-delivery drivers that many mailboxes are on blind hills or sharp corners, or in high-traffic areas.
Some mail delivery drivers have complained mailboxes are in dangerous locations.
(CBC)
Some rural mail carriers are refusing to deliver to locations they say are unsafe.
After the complaints, Canada Post consulted with the National Research Council, which examined issues such as the location of the boxes, sight lines for the drivers and the driving behaviours of Canadians.
They produced a computerized checklist of safety standards that drivers will use to analyze the safety of Canada's 800,000 rural mailboxes.
Avril Vollenhoven, a A Canada Post spokesperson, says the drivers' complaints are legitimate.
"The Canada Labour Code obligates Canada Post to ensure a safe working environment," said Vollenhoven. "We are legally obligated to provide this safe work environment."
Ottawa, meanwhile, is promising to restore "traditional" mail delivery to rural communities, says a report.
Work to restore delivery
A spokesperson for Lawrence Cannon, the minister responsible for Canada Post, said Thursday the government will do whatever is needed to restore delivery to rural residents, said the Globe and Mail.
Natalie Sarafian said the government doesn't yet have a detailed plan or target date.
On Wednesday, MPs unanimously approved a private member's bill, introduced by Liberal MP Lui Temelkovski, that calls on the minister to restore traditional delivery practices to rural areas.
Last spring, dozens of unionized drivers refused to deliver mail to rural parts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, citing safety concerns.
More than 200 drivers have claimed their routes are unsafe, and complained about poor road conditions and the risk of repetitive strain injuries from reaching out from their vehicles to put mail in the boxes.
Residents could still get their mail, but had to travel to larger communal mailboxes or into the nearest urban centre.
