By Mark Squibb/February 24, 2023
Councillor Bill Antle invoked the mantle of former councillor Lucy Stoyles in calling down condemnation on Canada Post during this week’s public council meeting in Mount Pearl.
With Stoyles now serving in the House of Assembly, it fell to someone else in the chamber to take up the annual winter campaign to remind Canada Post to play by the rules when it comes to snow clearing and other issues.
“Councillor Lucy Stoyles would always bring up Canada Post, and I think every one of us got a call this week about Canada Post not plowing their mailboxes,” said Antle, who asked Director of Public Works Glen Dollimount, who is also the City’s Canada Post liaison, to speak to the matter.
“We’re constantly back and forth with Canada Post with concerns over the snow clearing issue,” Dollimount admitted. “As recently as today I’ve received an e-mail from my contact with Canada Post. They’ve acknowledged that there were some concerns over the past snow events and they’re adamant that they’re going to improve the services on a go-forward basis. So, again, we’re trying to maintain a (good working) relationship with Canada Post.”
Dollimount said the end goal is for Canada Post to clear the areas around the super mailboxes correctly, as it is not the City’s responsibility.
He said any concerns should be brought to him directly, so that he can pass them along to Canada Post.
Antle said he’s seen operators pushing snow from around the mailboxes out into the middle of the public road.
“If a private resident did that, they’d be getting a ticket,” said the councillor.
The discussion arose out of a larger discussion, mostly positive, about the City’s own snow clearing efforts.
Councillor Chelsea Lane did point out, however, that she has been getting some complaints from people about their neighbours throwing snow into the street. Lane said that creates hazards for people, including seniors and children, who have to clamber over large icy blocks of snow that harden when temperatures go below the freezing point.
“I understand it can be difficult when you are shovelling to try to throw the snow high enough, especially when we have a large amount,” she said. “But we all have to be accountable. With snow clearing, while much of it is the responsibility of the City, you also have responsibility too to your neighbours and to yourself to make sure that when you are clearing your driveway that you are doing it properly. There’s no rhyme or reason for you to be throwing snow onto the sidewalks and into the roads.”
