Rural mail carriers losing out to high gas prices, says costs for delivering doubled

A mail carrier says her costs for delivering packages along her rural route have doubled because of the steep hike in gas prices and cost of living.

Jennifer Henson, one of 11-thousand rural and suburban Canada Post carriers, says she and her colleagues are responsible for the fuel and maintenance costs of the vehicles they use.

She says a subsidy from Canada Post through special tax treatment helps, but it isn't enough for today's inflation.

She says those measures should be increased.

The 38-year-old said it used to cost her $60 to the fill the tank of her Ford Flex.

"Now it's costing me $125 to fill my tank every two days, so it's completely doubled."