Your CRA drop box is closing and Vancouver's about to feel it

So, the Canada Revenue Agency is finally shutting down its physical drop boxes after the 2026 tax season. Nationally, it’s a story about modernization, about moving everything online. Here in Vancouver, though, it’s another quiet erosion of access, another subtle shift that hits different parts of the city unevenly. Think about the folks in the Punjabi Market on Main Street, or those seniors living in Vancouver Special homes, who’ve relied on those boxes for decades. They’re not all tech-savvy, and getting to a Service Canada office isn't always a quick trip on the Skytrain, especially if you’re trying to navigate it on a rainy Tuesday. It’s a small thing, sure, but it’s another layer of friction for people who are already struggling to keep up with the cost of living here.

It’s easy to say "just do it online," but that assumes everyone has consistent internet access, or the digital literacy, or even a home computer that isn't running Windows 98. This city is gorgeous, yes, but beneath that shine, there are real disparities. We’ve seen maternity wards diverting patients in Ridge Meadows, housing proposals getting blocked on council floors, and now this. It’s another example of how policy, even if well-intentioned nationally, can land hard on local communities that are already stretched thin. Beautiful out here. Complicated in here. That's the coast.

Kenji Nakashima, MiTL Sports Desk, Vancouver.

You know, the morning crew always has the pulse on this stuff. Catch their take at mornings.live.