The Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) is supporting a request from Canada Post for postal code changes planned for more than 1,000 addresses in electoral areas C and G.
In May, the CSRD board received a request for support from Canada Post for a project that would bring postal code changes to 1,012 residences along four routes in Sorrento, Tappen and Blind Bay. A report to the board explained the goal of the project is to “support a future route restructure, currently planned for October 2023.” The routes will be renamed as part of this change.
Canada Post anticipated beginning public engagement in July, and said it would offer free mail forwarding for 12 months to those affected.
The board opted to defer its decision until public consultation occurred. At the board’s June 15 meeting, however, that position changed after a response was received by Canada Post, explaining its postal code change project is “operational in nature, and we will be carrying forward with the customer engagement [as] described in [the] initial email.”
“In July 2023, customers affected will be notified of the change and will be provided with details of their new postal code and the implementation date,” said Canada Post. “We understand that this change may cause some inconvenience for residents, but we assure you that it is a necessary step to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our postal services… We believe that this project will not only benefit our residents but also improve the overall mail delivery experience in the area.”
Asked for comment, the Electoral Area C and G directors were not in the same postal code regarding the CSRD giving its support. Area G director Natalya Melnychuk said she was OK with the project moving forward, noting she spoke with a Canada Post representative who assured her “this is a normal process and this is something that needs to be done from an operational standpoint and it doesn’t have to do with the new division of C and G.”
Area C director Marty Gibbons spoke against, stating there’s been no public consultation and very little information shared with the public, “as was our original concern…”
”I have received feedback from some of my constituents that are not in favour of this and are not necessarily happy with the way Canada Post is undertaking this,” said Gibbons, who was the only director opposed in the board’s vote to support the planned postal code changes.
Read more: Postal code changes being considered for more than 1,000 Shuswap residences
Read more: CSRD anticipates Eagle Bay Community Park project will be completed this summer
lachlan@saobserver.net
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