The sustainability of Portage la Prairie's Canada Post office, and opportunities for the future were highlighted at this week's Portage la Prairie Council meeting. City Council heard a presentation from Canadian Union of Postal Workers Prairie Region Representative Ken Apostle Monday night, focusing on current challenges, and the federal government's review of the postal service. One of the concerns raised in his presentation was how the introduction of community mailboxes has resulted in fewer people utilizing the boxes at the office on Saskatchewan Avenue.

"This is reducing a fairly big chunk out of the post office operation. We have a concern that if that continues, with the ones that are going up right away, it undermines the ability of the community to keep the post office open."

Despite some concerns, Apostle says the committee currently reviewing Canada Post is looking at opportunities to boost revenues, and make the service more relevant to today's society. Everything from postal banking, which is seen in other countries, to electric car charging stations and increasing the focus on parcel delivery are all being discussed. Mayor Irvine Ferris says the post office is a valuable part of the city, both as a job provider and service. He notes keeping door-to-door service is important, and they're going to be taking a look at how to support the organization through their federal organization.

"We'll be working, first of all, through our national organization, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, in letting Canada Post know what our concerns are. They're similar to most communities across Canada; they want to preserve those jobs."

While the former federal government started removing the door-to-door service and introducing community mailboxes, CUPW still thinks there's time to save the service. Apostle says many across the country still receive door-to-door service, meaning it wouldn't be out of the question to restore the service to all citizens.