Resident holds sit-in at Hamilton mailbox site

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A few people in Hamilton are protesting the installation of the super mailboxes on the mountain.

Henry Ebanstenbrinke has been occupying a cement pad where Canada Post plans to install a community mailbox, on Brucedale between Upper Sherman and East 28th. He supports the city’s court fight.

Hamilton officials claim a local bylaw prevents Canada Post from installing the mailboxes without city permits. Canada Post ignored the bylaw, saying it has the exclusive jurisdiction over postal services and the legal authority to install community mailboxes on municipally-owned property.

“There is a bylaw in Hamilton right now that they need to get a permit and they are feeling they are above the law and in Canada nobody should be above the law whether its municipal, provincial or federal. For example they are not taking any care where they dig the pads.”

“We have had a number of incidents where one person’s lawn sprinkler system was damaged. They have dug through a gas line and there are a number of issues like that. One person near here is installing a driveway and they put the pad right where his driveway is supposed to go.”

“The goal is to maintain door-to-door delivery.”

Canada Post says it’s made several changes to mailbox locations, after talking to residents. The postal service and the city of Hamilton are waiting for a court ruling to resolve their mailbox dispute.