Yellowknife (Nov 19/04) - Canada Post has failed to deliver on its promise to inform customers of impending interruptions to service.

Although delivery has resumed, questions continue to go unanswered as to why Old Town residents were left without delivery for up to two weeks, and without being told where they could pick up their mail.

"If mail is interrupted for whatever reason, notification should happen the day of delivery or the following day," said Bob Taylor, Canada Post manager of corporate communications for British Columbia and the Yukon.

Taylor contacted Yellowknifer on Monday about the issue, but attempts to contact post office representatives for the NWT region were unsuccessful.

Taylor could not explain why Old Town residents were not informed of where their mail was being held. The local office would have to answer that question, he said.

After numerous unreturned calls to the Franklin Avenue mail depot, Peggy McLean, area manager for Nunavut and spokesperson for the Yellowknife district, said "At this time I'm not comfortable answering that question until I've spoken with Bob (Taylor)."

Taylor said a replacement carrier should be available to pick up the slack if injury or illness prevents carriers from completing their duties.

In the Nov. 12 edition of Yellowknifer, McLean said mail had been delivered to Old Town daily, despite what residents said, "Just not to the level that customers expect."

When asked on Nov. 10 whether a back-up plan existed to cover interruptions in service, McLean responded: "We have worked that out as well." But she refused to elaborate as to whether a plan existed before.

In the eyes of Old Town residents though, this is unacceptable.

"They should tell people because what if you're waiting for something really important," Janet Hamilton said.

Hamilton, who lives on Latham Island, said she noticed she was several days without mail delivery.

One business in the area, which asked not to be identified, has even taken delivery out of the carrier's hands. A mailbox at the downtown depot collects their mail because there is too much hassle with Old Town delivery.