By Ethan Ready

Postal service changes

Canada Post suspends 15-day hold period for parcels

Mar 24, 2020 | 2:06 PM

OTTAWA – Canada’s postal service has announced changes to the various services they offer Canadians as a result of the challenging times residents find themselves in.

Many post offices operated by Canada Post will reduce hours, opening one hour later and closing one hour earlier in order to clean, restock, and provide some relief to employees. The first hour of each day will also offer priority service to those who are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19.

Customers are being asked to provide two metres between themselves and other customers as Canada Post works to have signage and floor decals for their larger post offices. Smaller post offices will aim to limit the number of people inside.

Also, parcels left at the post office will not be returned-to-sender until further notice. Canada Post has suspended its normal 15-day hold period.

With regards to delivery service, Canada Post is hoping to eliminate customer interactions at doors in order to support social and physical distancing. They have implemented a Knock, Drop and Go approach as delivery employees will knock or ring, choose the safest location available to leave the item and then depart for the next address. This will eliminate the need for signatures at the door and greatly reduce the number of parcels and packages being sent to post offices for pick-up.

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Items needing Proof of Age, ID or Customs payments will be sent directly from depots to a retail post office for pick-up with no restrictions on when customers can pick up the item.

Canada Post asks the public to respect social and physical distancing with their employees who you may see out in the community.

“A simple smile and wave through the window to your delivery agent, a supportive thumbs-up to the driver of the Canada Post truck as they go by or patience and a thank you to the person working at the post office all go a very long way these days,” Canada Post said in a statement regarding the changes.