Canpar is a courier owned by TFI International: Ground in one to four business days, Select in one to three, Express next day, guaranteed. Canada Post is a Crown corporation that delivers to every Canadian address, post office boxes included. For a street address, compare both; for a PO box, Canada Post is the normal route.
Canpar vs Canada Post: services compared
| Canpar | Canada Post | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Courier, part of TFI International since 2002 | Federal Crown corporation |
| Fastest service | Express: next day, guaranteed | Priority: next business day between major urban centres |
| Mid-tier service | Select: 1 to 3 business days | Xpresspost: next-day or 2-day delivery standard |
| Economy service | Ground: 1 to 4 business days, based on major centres | Expedited Parcel (Solutions for Small Business or contract) and Regular Parcel |
| Guarantee | Refund or credit for late Select, Express and Priority, if the route qualifies | On-time Delivery Guarantee on Priority, Xpresspost and Expedited Parcel; none on Regular Parcel |
| Delivery options | 10 AM, Noon and Saturday for certain Express services and destinations | Depends on the service chosen |
| PO box | Listed among the causes of an undeliverable package | Delivered, like every Canadian address |
Canpar's transit times are based on major city centres and vary by origin and destination. Its Days in Transit calculator gives the time for each service offered between two postal codes. At Canada Post, the On-time Delivery Guarantee can be suspended or modified during peak periods or disruptions.
Coverage: PO boxes, residences and regions
This is the most practical difference. Under the Canadian Postal Service Charter, Canada Post delivers to every address in Canada, five days a week, less often in some remote areas. That includes post office boxes and community mailboxes.
Canpar delivers to a street address. Its terms of service list a Post Office Box recipient address among the reasons a package can be undeliverable. They also provide for an additional charge on residential pickup or delivery, including a business run from a home.
Guarantees and delivery options
Canpar's terms of service (effective July 9, 2026) provide a refund or credit of transportation charges for a late Select, Express or Priority shipment, if the service and route qualify at origin and destination. For certain Express services and select destinations, Canpar offers delivery by 10 AM, by Noon or on Saturday, chosen on the waybill at pickup.
At Canada Post, the On-time Delivery Guarantee covers Priority, Xpresspost and Expedited Parcel. Regular Parcel has no on-time delivery guarantee.
How to choose for your parcel
- Recipient with a post office box or community mailbox: Canada Post.
- Remote area: check coverage and transit with both; Canada Post serves every Canadian address.
- Business address in a city, parcel not urgent: compare Canpar Ground and Expedited Parcel on the same route.
- Guaranteed next-day delivery: Canpar Express or Canada Post Priority.
- Delivery by a set time or on Saturday: look at Canpar Express's 10 AM, Noon and Saturday options, depending on the destination.
- Home delivery: factor Canpar's residential charge into the total.
Official sources