NEW GLASGOW – Local mail will no longer be sorted in local post offices as Canada Post aims for lower costs and more efficient mail delivery.
John Caines, a spokesman for Canada Post, says this is not unique to Pictou County. “This is something that is being done all across the country,” he says.
The changes will see all local mail for the county sorted in Halifax then returned for delivery.
While the thought of dropping a local letter in a local street letter box only to have it sent to Halifax for sorting seems less efficient, Caines says it makes business sense. “We want to take advantage of the capacity and modern equipment we have [in Halifax].”
“The process will be more efficient in terms of cost and turnaround time.”
According to Caines, moving the sorting from local post offices to Halifax will not mean fewer jobs or a loss of jobs for workers in the county. “[Canada Post] employees will continue to have job security.”
The most tangible part of this move is the reduction of two red street letterboxes to one that takes all local and other mail. Most of these boxes have been changed already.
Caines says these changes are in line with standards set by the Canada Post Corporation Act of 1985. Under regulations, section 12.2 of the Act, says, “The rates of postage prescribed… shall be fair and reasonable and consistent…”
The move to sort local mail in larger regional sorting centres has been gradual but steady and Canada Post will be continuing to move in this direction.
