Canada Post plans to charge developers to install community mailboxes

OTTAWA – Buyers of new homes may have an additional fee to contend with next year and they’ll have Canada Post, in part, to thank for it.

The country’s postal service operator says it will begin charging developers $200 per home address to install community mailboxes in new residential neighbourhoods and commercial areas.

The new fee will kick in starting in January.

While the fees won’t be directly charged to homeowners, it is likely that developers will pass off the expense to buyers.

Canada Post is looking for new ways to generate revenue and help reduce the quarterly losses its has been racking up.

Mail volumes have been declining for years as more Canadians turned to email instead of letter services, while couriers have also snagged part of the large package market.