'Complicated' new post office box mandate has Burlington mayor shaking his head

A trip to the post office isn't as easy as it used to be for many residents on Newfoundland's Baie Verte Peninsula, says one mayor.

Burlington Mayor Rudy Norman is frustrated at a new Canada Post policy that requires customers use a post office box for deliveries.

Although some of the town's 300 residents already had a post office box, he says there was some flexibility that allowed residents to have packages delivered to a box or a house. He says the new mandate changed existing box numbers, causing even more confusion within the community.

"Now, instead of Box 12, really you're Box 85, Site 3, Module 6. I mean, that sounds a little bit complicated," Norman told CBC Radio's Newfoundland Morning.

"All of a sudden, the address that you've used all your life, it's got to change. It's not good enough anymore."

If an address is incorrect or incomplete, he says the mail is returned to the sender.

In a social media post, Norman announced he plans on presenting a resolution to Canada Post to "reverse these restrictive practices so we can all receive our mail safely and reliably — whether that's by P.O. Box, street address, or general delivery."

The resolution will be voted on at Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador's next annual general meeting, he wrote.

The new mailing system was phased in over the past year, but Norman says people still aren't used to it and he's heard of many mishaps from residents since Canada Post introduced the change.

"For instance, a single mother ordered birthday presents [for] her daughter and because their P.O. Box wasn't on it, it was sent back," said Norman. 

"An elderly gentleman missed a specialist appointment," he added. 

Changing an address can be stressful and hard for Burlington's senior population, says Norman.

From insurance companies, cell phone providers, credit cards to utilities — there are many different entities residents have to inform in order to pay their bills with the correct address, says Norman.

Limited options 

Norman is frustrated the Crown corporation isn't making mail delivery easier for his rural community.

"Canada Post is the only shipper that we have here in a lot of situations," he said.

In a statement to CBC News, Canada Post spokesperson Lisa Liu wrote Burlington customers' primary mode of mail delivery is through their P.O. Box, "which is assigned and managed solely by Canada Post, as per our mailing address database."

"The resident's civic address is determined by their local municipality. As such, customers should ensure they use the correct address – which in this case includes the P.O. Box and civic address — when shipping an item through Canada Post, ordering an item online or receiving mail," Liu added.

Liu also says a letter was sent to customers in February to notify them that items will continue to be returned to sender if an incorrect address is used.

A proper mailing address follows this format:

• The addressee's name,
• Civic address,
• Postal Box number,
• and municipality name, province or territory, and postal code.

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