A spokesperson for the Council of Canadians with Disabilities says the plan by Canada Post to eliminate home mail delivery in urban centres will isolate people it represents and make them dependent.

Canada Post announced Wednesday it plans to switch to community mailboxes, rather than home delivery, in urban centres. It pointed towards the drop in the amount of mail sent in recent years, as more people turn to electronic means and computer use.

Laurie Beachell, national coordinator for the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, also drew attention Thursday to poverty.

“Sadly, many people with disabilities live in poverty,” he said. “If you’re living in poverty with less than $10,000 a year, you do not have a computer,” said Beachell.

Clare Simpson uses a wheelchair and said losing home delivery of mail would affect her independence.

She said she wouldn't be able to access community boxes in her wheelchair.

Simpson wants Canada Post to consider less-frequent home delivery, rather than eliminating the service completely in urban centres.

- with a report from Alesia Fieldberg