A new federal report recommends that Canada Post gradually phase out daily door-to-door letter mail delivery for individual homes, while maintaining it for businesses. The 162-page report, released Friday, warns that the Crown corporation is facing a severe financial crisis and supports major operational changes to ensure its survival.
According to CTV’s Jeremie Charron, the Industrial Inquiry Commission’s findings are expected to influence ongoing collective bargaining negotiations between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). With less than a week before the current reprieve from strike action ends on May 22, the report casts doubt on the union’s chances of securing a stronger contract.
Commissioner William Kaplan, who authored the report, criticized the union for resisting change and defending outdated practices. He placed the blame for stalled negotiations squarely on CUPW, writing that they are “pushing for improvements on the status quo” and must shift their approach if Canada Post is to survive.
One of the most contentious recommendations is to lift the moratorium on converting home delivery to community mailboxes, as well as allowing rural post office closures. Kaplan also emphasized the need to hire part-time staff for weekend parcel delivery and to allow daily adjustments to delivery routes based on volume. He stressed, however, that these part-time roles must remain “good jobs” under collective agreement protections, not precarious gig work.
Doug Ettinger, CEO of Canada Post, welcomed the report’s findings, stating they come at a critical time for the organization. He added that Canada Post will work closely with its employees, union representatives, and the federal government to address challenges and move toward sustainability.
Labour experts, including McMaster University’s Stephanie Ross and DeGroote School of Business’s Marvin Ryder, noted the report largely supports the employer’s stance. While Ross acknowledged the call for fair treatment of part-time workers as a small positive, she warned that the recommendations pose a serious challenge to job security for current full-time staff.
The CUPW has not yet commented on the report. However, union leaders were scheduled to meet Friday with Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu to discuss its implications. In a statement posted to X, Hajdu called for renewed good-faith negotiations and urged both sides to focus on preserving a strong postal system for Canadians.
If a deal is not reached before the reprieve ends, the country could once again face a mail service disruption.
