Pierrefonds senior citizen wonders how she’ll get her mail in the winter
www.thesuburban.com
Like many of her neighbours on her street in Pierrefonds-Roxboro, Louise Marquise is a senior citizen with mobility issues. She was not pleased last week upon receiving a letter from Canada Post informing her that as of next spring, she will no longer be receiving home delivery service and will have to walk to a community mailbox to get her mail; something she is not looking forward to doing in inclement weather.
Marquise called The Suburban after reading about Canada Post’s intentions to discontinue home delivery service for many West Island municipalities next year.
“We seem to pay a lot in taxes and yet our services always get cut,” said Marquise. “This is not a good idea as I have trouble walking and will soon need a cane. The community mailboxes could be placed near my house or further away. On bad days, I will have to ask a neighbour to collect my mail for me.
“I have been in my house for the last 30 years and have no plans to move but, as a taxpayer, I will be left without services,” Marquise told The Suburban.
And while Canada Post wants to say money by reducing home delivery service, Marquise finds it ironic that currently, there are two postal carriers for her street, one who walks to seven homes while the other uses a Canada Post vehicle to delivery the mail. “Why not get rid of the vehicles and have the carriers walk their routes. I’m sure only having one postal worker for my street would be more efficient.”
At last week’s Dorval council meeting, it was noted that Dorval is hoping Canada Post will try to find ” solutions to minimize as much as possible the impact of these important changes to services offered by Canada Post, while at the same time continuing to put pressure on the crown corporation, hoping that it will reassess its position,” explained city spokesperson Sébastien Gauthier.
“We find it unfortunate that Canada Post is not more sensitive to the needs and preoccupations of citizens who find it important to receive their mail at home,” explained Mayor Edgar Rouleau. “But a decision has been made and we must now work toward maintaining a good quality of life for Dorval residents.
“We insist that Canada Post pays special attention to the increasing number of seniors and persons with reduced mobility who will be directly affected by this reform of an essential service,” said the mayor.
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