Just two weeks after postal workers ratified a tentative contract offer, Canada Post is taking another major step in its restructuring plan, announcing that almost half a million homes across the country — including thousands in the GTA — will be converted from home delivery to community mailboxes beginning early next year.
Ajax, Pickering, Brampton and Mississauga are among the affected communities announced Thursday.
“Community mailbox conversions are a key element of Canada Post’s plan to transform the postal service to meet the evolving needs of Canadians without becoming a recurring burden on taxpayers,” Canada Post said in a press release announcing the move. “The Corporation’s deteriorating financial situation — including a record loss in 2025 and another significant loss in the first quarter of 2026 — underscores the urgency of this transformation.”
The Ajax addresses being converted are in the areas with postal codes beginning with L1S and L1T. For Brampton, the affected addresses begin with L6S, L6T, L6W, L6Y, L6V, L6X, L67 and L7A. In Pickering, the affected addresses begin with L1V, L1W, and L1X. For Mississauga, L4T, L4V, L5M, L5N, L5S and L5T are affected.
Thursday’s announcement marks a major escalation from the Crown corporation’s move in mid-April, when it announced the first round of conversions affecting 136,000 homes.
Canada Post said it has already begun discussions with communities affected by the April announcement, and expects to begin discussions with communities affected by Thursday’s announcement later this year.
“Converting an address from door-to-door delivery to a community mailbox typically takes months. Canada Post will engage with local governments as it identifies suitable locations for community mailbox sites,” the Crown corporation said. “The company is also notifying residents of the upcoming change to their mail delivery, and will keep them, businesses, (unions) bargaining and employees informed every step of the way.”
More than three quarters of Canadians already get their mail delivered to community mailboxes. Canada Post said it expects to convert the remaining four million homes getting home delivery within five years.
The Crown Corporation said it will still provide home-delivery service for people who need it, including seniors or people with mobility issues. The delivery accommodation program will require “supporting documentation” as part of any application.
Last September, the federal government gave the green light for a broad restructuring of Canada Post, including elimination of home delivery, increased use of community mailboxes and shuttering of some rural post offices.
Many of the changes approved by the minister were recommended in a May 2025 report by the Industrial Inquiry Commission led by veteran mediator William Kaplan.
Within hours of Lightbound’s September announcement, CUPW launched its second national strike in a year.
Canada Post CEO Doug Ettinger said in December that the Crown corporation is expecting 16,000 employees to retire or take voluntary departure by 2030, with another 14,000 leaving by 2035.
In voting which wrapped up May 30, more than 53,000 postal workers approved a tentative contract offer agreement with the Crown corporation.
