Canada Post is expanding its delivery services to meet the needs of a growing e-commerce industry. While the sector is lucrative, the Crown corporation is up against major competition and stunted domestic sales rates.

In today’s digital age, postal transformations in sectors such as advertising, publishing and politics are trivializing the roles served by Canada Post. Electronic alternatives are quickly replacing those roles.

The traditional image of letter carriers delivering mail on foot is out of step with the contemporary digital economy. Nonetheless, Canada Post’s elimination of door-to-door delivery compromises its public duties.

Canada Post’s status quo jeopardizes its future and sustainability. For commonwealth countries such as Australia and the U.K., postal change has come in the form of privatization. In Canada, this prompts the question: should our national mailing service be privatized as well?

If Canada Post maintains its current state of affairs in terms of e-commerce, lettermail, delivery services and overall ownership, the Crown corporation will have great difficulty weathering disruption in the digital age.