Technology is squeezing the post office so much that a familiar service has to disappear

Email, social media and video conferencing are prompting Canada Post to end door-to-door mail delivery service in urban areas.

Facing mounting deficits the federal Crown corporation announced plans Wednesday to overhaul its system which will include a shift from home to delivery to the use of community mail boxes, increase in postal rates effective March 31, 2014, let up to 8,000 jobs go unfilled when postal workers retire or leave and step up the use of technology to streamline processes.

A statement released by Canada Post cited rising cost and advances in digital communication as the main reasons for the changes.

“Canada Post has a mandate to fund its operations with revenues from the sale of its products and services, rather than become a burden to taxpayers,” a statement in the corporation’s Web site said. “With the increasing use of digital communications and the historic decline of lettermail volumes, Canada Post has begun to post significant losses.”

(By Nestor Arellano)