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If Canada Post is continuing down this path, that’s a bit of a problem for me

Similar motions from around the country were echoed over the weekend as the Federation of Canadian Municipalities met in Niagara Falls, Ont., for its annual conference.

“One of the biggest issues that all municipalities are stating is a lack of meaningful consultation,” said Oakville Councillor Tom Adams, who tabled a motion that passed unanimously asking the federal government to preserve door-to-door delivery. Oakville is one of 11 communities scheduled to lose the service in the first wave of cuts by October.

Other major cities that have passed resolutions in support of door-to-door delivery include Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Winnipeg and Hamilton.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has been organizing demonstrations across the country since December, most recently this past weekend in Peterborough, Ont. The union has also hosted town hall meetings in partnership with cities to encourage citizens to contact their MP.

Mr. Adams said Canada Post has not been forthcoming in answering Oakville’s concerns over issues associated with the new community mailboxes. These include access for seniors and those with disabilities, and costs that would be needed for additional street lighting, litter and graffiti removal, theft and clearance of snow and ice.

Mr. Henry vowed he would not let these responsibilities be “downloaded” onto his city’s taxpayers, and that any residents phoning to complain about the changes would be sent to their local MPs or Canada Post.