Canada Post is phasing out home delivery.
People, particularly those living in urban areas (cities), won’t have their mail delivered directly to their home. They’ll have to do what most people in rural areas already do—get their mail from a “community mailbox.” Canada Post says about two-thirds of people in Canada already get their mail this way.
It will be about five years before home delivery is completely phased out.
The elimination of home delivery service is one of a number of things Canada Post is doing to save money.
Canada Post says the move will save them $400 to $500 million.
As more people use electronic mail fewer people are using “snail mail” (traditional mail delivered by mail carriers). The company delivered a billion fewer pieces of mail in 2012 than it did in 2006.
Canada Post is also increasing the price of stamps. A Canadian stamp, for a standard envelope, will cost $1 or $.85 if the stamps are bought in bulk (meaning, bought in a booklet or a roll of stamps). Currently, a Canadian stamp costs $.63.
The price of stamps will go up on March 31. But don’t plan on stockpiling stamps in anticipation of the price increase. The company has suspended the sale of its P (Permanent) stamps until the price increase has taken effect.
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
By Kathleen Tilly
Writing/Discussion Prompt
Since more people send emails and texts, fewer people use regular mail. Technology has literally changed how we deliver messages and communicate with our friends and family.
Think of some other ways that technology has changed our lives. Are all of these changes positive — why or why not?
Reading Prompt: Point of View
Canada Post has decide to phase out mail delivery to individual homes in Canadian cities. Canada Post believes it is a good idea because it will save them money.
Do you think this opinion is held by all people involved? What do you think the point of view would be for mail carriers and for people receiving mail in cities?
Primary
Identify, initially with support and direction, the speaker and the point of view presented in a text and suggest one or two possible alternative perspectives (OME, Reading: 1.9)
Junior
Identify the point of view presented in texts, ask questions to identify missing or possible alternative points of view, and suggest some possible alternative perspectives (OME, Reading: 1.9).
Intermediate
Identify the point of view presented in texts, including increasingly complex or difficult texts; give evidence of any biases they may contain; and suggest other possible perspectives (OME, Reading: 1.9).
Grammar Feature: Letter Writing
There is an art to letter writing that may get lost as we move towards more electronic mail.
What is the traditional way to write a letter? How do you structure a letter? What kind of language do you use at the beginning and the end of a letter?
