Canada Post strike: Maritime provinces working to ensure vital cheques arrive

All three Maritime provinces are working on alternatives to ensure residents receive vital mail, like government cheques, after Canada Post workers hit the picket lines Friday morning.

About 55,000 workers walked off the job after negotiations with the Crown corporation on a new contract failed to be met by the strike deadline.

In a statement Friday morning, Canada Post said customers will experience delays as a result of the work disruption.

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The statement said mail and parcels will not be delivered for the duration of the strike, and some post offices will be closed.

The Crown corporation said shutting down facilities will affect its national network, with processing and delivery of mail possibly needing time to return to normal once the strike is over.

Canada Post workers in Halifax went on strike on Nov. 15, 2024. (CTV Atlantic/Carl Pomeroy)

Nova Scotia

A news release from the Nova Scotia government is encouraging those who receive provincial cheques by mail to use online services and direct deposit.

The release goes on to say community services caseworkers will contact clients who still get cheques directly to arrange pickup.

Beginning Wednesday, the provincial government will be able to take some correspondence that cannot be sent electronically to an Access Nova Scotia centre.

Starting Nov. 30, Nova Scotians who rely on the postal service for delivery of high-priority items will be able to pick them up at an Access Nova Scotia centre, with the length of that service depending on how long the strike lasts.

Pickup will be available on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., according to the release.

“Staff will contact people to let them know the Department is arranging to have their item at a centre,” reads the news release.

“People should allow two Saturdays from the time they are notified and bring valid government identification with them.”

Prince Edward Island

The Prince Edward Island government is working on arranging alternative pickup and delivery methods for people who rely on important government mail, like provincial cheques.

A news release from the province says government departments have identified services affected by the work disruption. To minimize impacts on the delivery of social program payments made by cheque, the province says these payments were kept out of the Canada Post system.

The province will provide information about alternative delivery methods for mail related to services, such as:

• social assistance
• medical test results
• maintenance enforcement
• worker's compensation benefits

The news release adds that many Islanders have already received information about direct deposit options.

New Brunswick

The New Brunswick government also put plans in place to minimize the impact of the strike.

“We are prepared for a service disruption and have contingency plans in place for important services,” said Local Government Minister Aaron Kennedy, who is also minister responsible for Service New Brunswick.

“We are aiming to mitigate negative impacts, and we encourage the public to consider using alternative means of communication.”

Service New Brunswick

The province is strongly recommending all vendor and suppliers who deal with the provincial government to sign up for direct deposit to receive their payments.

Department of Finance and Treasury Board

The Department of Finance and Treasury Board has plans in place to ensure those who rely on government payments continue to receive them.

“All returns and remittances that are required to be made to the provincial government will continue to be due as per their normal schedule. Monthly remittances of fuel and tobacco taxes by collectors must be remitted by the 25th day of the month following the reporting period,” reads the provincial news release. “All International Fuel Tax returns for the fourth quarter are due Jan. 31, 2025.”

During the strike, remittances may be forwarded by courier to the department or submitted at one of Service New Brunswick’s locations.

The province says people can also fax their returns and make payments through electronic funds transfer options.

Late returns and remittances will be subject to penalty and interest.

Motor vehicle services

Mailed reminders of driver’s licence and vehicle registration renewals will be temporarily on hold.

Drivers are encouraged to sign up for email registration reminders by opting out of receiving paper reminders in the mail.

Drivers are encouraged to:

• check the expiry date on their registration
• renew their registration online if necessary
• print the paperwork for their vehicle

The province says registrations and the associated stickers will be mailed once the work stoppage ends.

Department of Justice and Public Safety: Family Support Orders Service

Cheques will not be sent through Canada Post during the strike. Clients receiving payments under the Family Support Orders Service are urged to sign up for direct deposit.

Anyone who can’t arrange direct deposit may request to pick up their cheques at one of the eight judicial district officers of the Court of King’s Bench. Clients can speak directly to their enforcement officer for more information.

Clients who normally make family support payments by mail are encouraged to use online or telephone banking, or make payments in person at their local Service New Brunswick office.

Employers are encouraged to contact the central payment unit to make arrangements for electronic file transfers or online banking. Employers should contact the unit if those methods are not available so other options can be discussed.

Department of Social Development

Clients who receive payments from the department are encouraged to contact their regional office to arrange for direct deposit.

Any clients expecting payments from the department can pick them up at regional offices.

‘No one wanted this’

Dwayne Corner, president of Nova Local 096, says workers are fighting for fair wages, safer working conditions and improved benefits. He says negotiations have been underway for nearly a year, with little progress made in the bargaining process.

“The corporation’s not been negotiating and willing to move on any subject so, here we are today,” said Corner during an interview on CTV Morning Live Atlantic on Friday. “No one wanted to be here, but here we are.”

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers issued a 72-hour strike notice Tuesday morning.

Canada Post served the union with a lockout notice earlier this week, but had said it didn't intend to lock workers out.

Corner says his members hope they’ll be able to reach a negotiated settlement soon, although there’s no way in knowing how long the strike could last.

Canada Post workers in Halifax who went on strike the morning of Nov. 15, 2024 are pictured. (CTV Atlantic/Carl Pomeroy)

“We’re hoping that the corporation will come back to the bargaining table and start negotiating in good faith, and that we’ll finally start making some progress,” he said.

“…They put two global offers in, we put two global offers in, and we were forced to put a 72-hour notice in and then they put a 72-hour notice in to lock us out.”

Although there wasn’t much movement from Canada Post on the eve of the strike, Corner says they’re hoping to be back to the bargaining table at some point on Friday.

“Basically, the ball’s in the corporation’s court at the moment. We are willing to negotiate, but they have to move on this too,” he said.

Speaking for his local, Corner apologized to customers who will be affected by the strike.

“We’re sorry that it came down to this, no one wanted this,” he said. “It’s up to the corporation to negotiate in good faith. We ask the customers to actually support us. We’re fighting for good jobs, benefits and for future workers.”