The post office is the initial technology of the government for communication and low scale cargo connectivity. It acts as a conduit between a people and its government. It is often the first presence of sovereignty in any country since it shows that the settlement is connected to the rest of a country.

[+] CanIFishHere@lemmy.ca -11 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Are you describing the pony express? Times and needs change.

[–] Tiresia@slrpnk.net 15 points 3 days ago (1 children)

What's important is that there is some form of public service communication that everyone can access. The mail is safe to deprecate if and only if internet access is a public service instead: if every person gets a computer or smartphone with an internet connection for free.

That would honestly be a great system, but that's not one Canadians have. So the post should stay.

[+] CanIFishHere@lemmy.ca -8 points 3 days ago (6 children)

When was the last time you used canada post for communication? Even my 86 yr old friend uses email. Libraries have internet access, so it already is a free public service. I support Canada Post staying, but only if the people that use it pay for the cost.

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Friday I got a parcel from China in my mailbox, because it was sent via normal mail, not UPS/FedEx.

My daughter was opening a bank account with a partner, they needed ID and a utility bill that had the mailing address printed on it. Paper address mailings are also used for citizenship and other matters as a way to help ensure you are in the country and picking up mail, rather than online fraud.

For CRA password account reset they paper mail you a code to stop online scams.

Court notice papers can legit be served by mail.

My strata ( by law ) has to mail certain documents like AGM info to residents, as electronic notification doesn't count for some specific things.

And so on.

As for your e savvy person. Great. My my old aunts don't have a cell phone or computer.

Also say you can't afford and ISP, you can't get electronic info at home, but mail comes free

[–] CanIFishHere@lemmy.ca -1 points 2 days ago

Canada Post usage is down to less than half. An average household receives two pieces of mail a week. The service, as it is currently funded, is not rational. It is over staffed and hugely overpriced.

[–] JC1@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Any government related communication like related to healthcare, driving licence, passport, etc. Insurances still send the physical contract by mail. Financial institutions also send by mail important documents. Most of these could be done electronically, but they are not.

The main issue is that our mail is polluted by all sorts of garbage publicity from different companies. Those should cost way way more to do. That way, we can reduce the need for evey mail delivery person to go to each door like they do now.

Looks like my address will be converted and having known both systems, I much prefer having a mail delivery person come to my home. It's a more personalized relation and he cares about us. It's just not the same with a community mailbox.

[–] CanIFishHere@lemmy.ca -2 points 2 days ago

Canada Post has gone from delivering over 5.5B letters in 2006 to less than 1/2 that in 2025, with no sign in sight of that trend reversing. Canada Post shouldn't be a make work program, or a feel good program. The system should reflect the need it is addressing.

[–] ArchEngel@lemmy.ca 6 points 3 days ago

Not everywhere has a library though, and not everyone can afford a phone or pc, so what to do about those people who do need the mail?

[–] Bane_Killgrind@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 3 days ago

I got my passport in the mail recently. All ID renewal needs costless delivery. So that's everyone that would use it.

[–] xthexder@l.sw0.com 1 points 3 days ago

I mail in my votes, and Canada Post handles those. I would not trust any digital voting system.

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca -1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

You are getting down voted for reality.

[–] CanIFishHere@lemmy.ca 0 points 2 days ago

I'm getting downvoted for ideology. Noting that mail delivery has fallen to an average of 2 letters per week per household, with no significant reduction in mail carriers doesn't mean anything because their position isn't based on fact.

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 0 points 2 days ago

If it were up to Volvo socialists, we would still be employing whalers and candle makers.