Athabasca County council is taking their Canada Post concerns from the administrative side to the political after discussing a Canada Post employee’s “noncommittal answer” during their July 20 council meeting.
Coun. Christine Bilsky said many ratepayers are still being affected by changes Canada Post is making in their delivery, and she asked if there are still a couple of things to be done.
“Just to try and get some answers, because it seems the ratepayers individually aren’t having any luck,” she said. “Maybe us as this group, maybe we could help out. I just don’t want to leave it.”
In May, council received word the Grassland post office would be changing its hours to better accommodate those who work during the day, with the post office being open until 6 p.m. on Wednesdays.
A letter included in the July 20 council package from Reeve Doris Splane to the federal Canada Post director of municipal engagement, Marnie Armstrong, said the change of hours was a positive step, but council would like a further review of the Grassland post office operating hours.
It was also noted that Athabasca County residents who have post office boxes at the Athabasca post office have been given notice that unless they pay a fee, their boxes would be transferred to the Colinton post office.
“I disagree with that because, again, this is a hot topic around town, and in my travels…a couple who were told there was no room for them in Athabasca, but then they paid $150 and all a sudden there was room for them,” Coun. Larry Armfelt said.
Armstrong’s response to Splane was that Canada Post teams are taking a closer look at the delivery mode matter and are exploring potential solutions, and no further changes will be made for customers until a decision is reached.
Bilsky said she would like to see the Canada Post map of their coverage area, which might reveal the Colinton delivery area, because it seems “willy nilly” how two households are getting a bill to remain in Athabasca and one in between them has been missed.
County manager Ryan Maier said he sent an email to the Canada Post local area superintendent Rita Bjornson requesting a copy of the map. He said she replied she did not have one.
Coun. Denis Willcott said council keeps going over this, and asked if council could have a federal Canada Post official come in and speak with council.
Maier said he sent a letter to Bjornson May 26, inviting her to a council meeting, and has not yet received a response.
Coun. Warren Griffin said the lack of an answer is very unprofessional.
“We’re dealing with multigenerational boxes where, all of a sudden, we have no room for you unless you pay,” he said. “Well, that makes no sense. We have all these community boxes out here. If they need to put more community boxes out, that’s what they should do.”
Coun. Kevin Haines made a motion to send a letter to the federal minister in charge of Canada Post, the minister of Public Services and Procurement. The letter would request a meeting with a representative regarding post office changes in the area and changes affecting mail delivery.
“We’re not getting anywhere with the administrative side, so we go (to the) political side,” Haines said.
The motion was carried unanimously.
