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“We don’t want to be there,” Gallant said of the strike. “We want to be delivering to people’s homes, just like what we call our competition. We want that parcel going. Otherwise, it deteriorates the post office and the writing is on the wall at that point.

"We need something that is sustainable, not a sunset industry.”

CUPW has issued the following statement: "In response to the government’s attack on our postal service and workers, effective immediately, all CUPW members at Canada Post are on a nationwide strike."

It said the union was “outraged and appalled” by Lightbound’s announcement earlier today.

“If Canada Post had focused on negotiating collective agreements and increasing parcel volumes, instead of attacking workers, it would already be on a path to sustainability.”

People walking through downtown Vancouver this afternoon were aware that losing home deliveries in a major urban centre isn’t the same as losing that service in a small town.

Retiree Allison Crowell struggled to recall the last time she got mail from Canada Post – maybe six months ago. Still, she said she was worried for others.

“I do believe that they provide an important service for bits that the private sector wouldn’t be interested in and people who live in rural areas,” she said.

Zachary Shilling, who works at St. Paul’s Hospital, said he’s more concerned about labour negotiations between Canada Post and the workers’ union.

“I care more about labour rights than I do if my packages are late,” he said.

Software development manager Rodney Shupe said he doesn’t get door-to-door delivery, anyway, since he lives in an apartment building.

“For me, no, it wouldn’t impact me at all.”

In an area of Halifax that still gets door-to-door deliveries, residents had mixed feelings.

Luke Davison said he doesn't get that much physical mail, anyway, so he won't be all that affected by losing home delivery. Still, he said, a community mailbox, "would be a little inconvenient. I guess the door-to-door service is kind of nice."

Another resident, Andrew Leblanc, said he likes his mail delivered to his door but said he is no more entitled to that service than any other customer.

“If we are going to go that route, then it should be for everybody. And everyone that has the mailboxes now should get door-to-door delivery. It should be the same thing for everyone," he said.

Janine McGregor said the level of inconvenience will depend on where you live. She said she grew up in Ontario, in an area with a community mailbox.

"I think it's fine if you're in the city and it's on the same street as you. But if you're rural and have to drive somewhere far, that's not great,” she said.

While it’s been politically unpopular for governments to propose cuts to Canada Post in the past, attitudes may be shifting.

Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute, said Canadians do see room for improvement even though privatizing Canada Post is a non-starter.

When Angus Reid surveyed Canadians this summer, Kurl said nearly three-quarters of respondents said that they would support reducing door-to-door home delivery to three days a week instead of the five days a week.

“Those who have already checked out or found other ways to receive communication and parcels, it's going to have less impact on them,” Kurl said Thursday.

“But for those who really care and really rely on it, particularly in rural communities, particularly for those who really say that this is something that they want or need, I would expect there will be some blowback."

As we mentioned earlier, the Liberal government famously promised in 2015 to save home delivery and stopped a plan to convert millions of Canadians to community boxes.

Well, here we are today.

Power & Politics host David Cochrane asked Minister Lightbound this afternoon whether that 2015 decision was a mistake.

“I think, [in] hindsight, probably yes," Lightbound said, though he added that Canada Post’s financial situation is more dire now and that the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the decline in letter mail.

Cochrane challenged Lightbound, saying his government knew in 2015 that Canada Post’s situation was inevitable. The minister responded that he is “proud to be in a new government that's willing to lead the hard decisions.”

A Canada Post spokesperson said that the government’s announcement will give the Crown corporation the changes needed to “chart a strong, financially sustainable path forward.”

Canada Post president and CEO Doug Ettinger wrote in a statement that the corporation takes its responsibility seriously, and “will work closely with the government and our employees to move with urgency and implement the necessary changes in a thoughtful manner.”

“Our goal is to ensure that a strong, affordable, Canadian-made, Canadian-run delivery provider supports the needs of today’s economy and delivers to every community across the country,” he added.

The current standard for mail delivery is three to four days, but it would be expanded to three to seven days based on volume, according to the government's technical briefing.

Another detail: Canada Post has a program that lets people register online to receive letter mail at home if they can't get to a community mailbox for whatever reason.

NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice, the party’s labour critic, has also weighed in. He said the Carney government “wants to realize the dream of Stephen Harper with community boxes everywhere and cuts for our rural populations.”

“And in the cities it’s going to be a mess,” he said on his way into question period, suggesting there is nowhere to put more community boxes.

Christine Normandin, the party’s house leader, accused the government of “slipshod” and “hastily improvised” reforms that overlook thousands of Quebecers.

Speaking during question period in the House of Commons, she also criticized the end to the moratorium on closing rural post offices. She said the government should not cut back on service in rural areas and called on them to ensure Quebecers in those areas aren’t abandoned.

Minister Lightbound responded saying the government is committed to ensuring all Canadians in remote areas have access to Canada Post.

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