Canada Post rolls out weekend parcel deliveries in Montreal amid major restructuring
Canada Post has started delivering parcels on weekends to homes in Montreal and Ottawa as part of a broader restructuring plan aimed at modernizing service and competing with private couriers that for years have offered weekend and evening deliveries.
At its annual public meeting, the Crown corporation said it will expand weekend delivery to Toronto in late November and to other major centres such as Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary next year. The objective is to reach seven million households by the end of 2027. The move comes as Canada Post seeks to stabilise operations after a turbulent period that included a national strike in late 2024 and questions over its financial footing.
Canada Post chief executive Doug Ettinger framed the change as both a response to customer expectations and a result of new labour arrangements. "We will demonstrate to Canadians that our service can evolve to meet their modern needs," Ettinger said. He added that the shift was partly about catching up with market practice and that updated labour agreements now make it possible to offer weekend service.
"Yes, this is partly catching up to the market. But thanks to our labour agreements, it is now possible," Doug Ettinger, CEO, Canada Post
What Montrealers should expect
For many Montreal residents, the change means an additional delivery day for parcels on Saturdays and Sundays. Canada Post said it will monitor public response to shape further rollouts in other communities. The initial expansion began with deliveries already underway in Ottawa and Montreal, and Toronto’s launch is scheduled for late November.
- Initial rollout: Montreal and Ottawa — already underway
- Short-term expansion: Toronto — late November
- Further rollout: Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and other urban centres — next year
- Target: Seven million households by end of 2027
Context and implications
The initiative reflects persistent market pressure from private carriers that have offered weekend and evening delivery for years. Canada Post officials acknowledged that the corporation lagged behind those services in part due to constraints in previous labour agreements. The recent changes to contracts, along with operational restructuring, are being presented as enablers for a more flexible service model.
At the same time, the Crown corporation remains under financial strain. Senior executives signalled an ongoing need for federal support while they move forward with restructuring plans. The combination of increased service expectations and fiscal challenges will be closely watched by municipal and provincial stakeholders in Montreal, where reliable parcel delivery is a key service for residents and local businesses.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current weekend start | Montreal, Ottawa |
| Next planned start | Toronto (late November) |
| Other cities | Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary (next year) |
| Household target | 7 million by end of 2027 |
For Montreal’s retailers and e-commerce businesses, expanded weekend delivery could reduce reliance on private couriers for time-sensitive shipments and offer consumers more flexibility for receiving packages. Residents who have grown accustomed to private-sector delivery windows may welcome the parity, but the success of the expansion will depend on Canada Post’s ability to deliver reliably while managing its financial and labour commitments.
Canada Post said it will evaluate customer response and operational performance as the program scales. For Montrealers, the move represents both a practical service change — an extra delivery day — and a sign that the crown corporation is attempting to adapt after a period of upheaval that had tangible effects on households and businesses across Quebec and Canada.
