As Canada’s postal workers enter the third week of a labor disruption, they are facing significant opposition in the House of Commons. Nearly all members of Parliament are against the current strike by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). The Conservative Party has long been critical of Canada Post, having attempted to phase out home mail delivery in 2014. However, even members of the ruling Liberal Party are now urging mail carriers to adapt to a future where Canada Post’s operations are significantly restructured.

Joël Lightbound, the minister responsible for Canada Post, emphasized the need for modernization during a recent session in the House of Commons. He stated, "It is now essential that we modernize this institution, which, I would remind the House, is losing $10 million a day." This financial strain has led to a record 91 percent of MPs opposing CUPW's demands amid the ongoing mail disruption.

The Bloc Québécois, while critical of the government, has also shifted its rhetoric. Marilène Gill, a Bloc MP, questioned the Liberals' responsibility for the crisis, asking, "Will anyone on the government side recognize that the Liberals are the only ones responsible for the crisis at Canada Post?"

Public sentiment appears to align with the views expressed in Parliament. A recent survey by the Angus Reid Institute revealed that many Canadians support ending daily mail delivery and replacing traditional mail carriers with non-union gig workers. While 59 percent of respondents preferred to keep Canada Post publicly owned, a significant majority favored reforms proposed by management, which are opposed by CUPW.

The survey indicated that 72 percent of Canadians believe mail delivery should be reduced to three days a week, and 52 percent support allowing non-union workers to handle mail delivery. This strike was initiated shortly after Lightbound announced plans for service cuts, including reduced home delivery and the closure of rural post offices. He described Canada Post as "effectively insolvent" and facing an "existential crisis."

In response to these developments, CUPW national president Jan Simpson criticized the government's announcements, calling them "an insult to the public and to postal workers," which prompted an immediate national strike. The CUPW has since shifted to "rotating strikes," but Canada Post has warned customers to expect significant delays due to "trapped volume" in the mail system.

The public's attitude toward Canada Post has shifted dramatically since 2017. At that time, a poll showed that 77 percent of Canadians wanted to maintain current service levels. While many were open to the idea of reducing mail delivery to three days a week, 89 percent opposed post office closures, and 54 percent were against ending home mail delivery.

The financial situation of Canada Post has deteriorated since then, with the corporation reporting $4.5 billion in operational losses since its last profitable year in 2017. The current strike reflects a significant change in public opinion, as Canadians grapple with the realities of a struggling postal service and the need for reform.