Canada Post to cut hours in rural Cape Breton

Canada Post will be scaling back hours at eight post offices in Cape Breton, according to the association that represents rural postmasters.

In most cases this will mean the rural post offices are closed on Saturdays and will be open fewer hours during the week.

The communities facing the cuts are Scotsville, Pleasant Bay, Lower L'Ardoise, Margaree Valley, Margaree, West Bay Road, Iona and Louisbourg.

"At the end of the day, if we see a large number of hours that are being reduced in a small rural post office, it makes it more inconvenient for our customers," said Karen MacDonald, the Maritime president of the Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association.

Canada Post could not be reached for comment. But the Crown corporation has said that it is trying to align its services with the demand.

MacDonald said the cuts will also hurt postmasters, who will lose part of their salaries.