Is Canada Post delivering mail today? What to know about the strike

With Canada Post workers on strike, many individuals and businesses are facing the challenge of sending and receiving mail.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers announced the strike after it and the Crown corporation were unable to reach a deal by the deadline Friday, noting little progress was made after nearly a year of bargaining. 

Canada Post said in a statement Friday that the impact would be “significant and immediate” on millions of Canadians, small businesses and charities during the busy holiday season.

Here are the answers to some of Canadians’ most-asked questions.

About 55,000 Canada Post workers went on strike Friday after failing to reach a negotiated agreement with their employer.

Mail and parcels won’t be processed or delivered and no new items will be accepted until the strike is over, according to Canada Post. It said services to remote and northern regions that heavily rely on Canada Post are shut down.

Some post offices are closed. Visit the Canada Post website or call ahead to find out which ones are open.

Canada Post said it would continue operating and maintaining service if there are rotating strikes as negotiations continue. However, mail won’t be delivered and service guarantees are affected for items already in the postal network.

All mail and parcels will be “secured and delivered” as fast as possible on a first-in, first-out basis once operations resume, according to Canada Post.

It is uncertain how long delivery delays will go on, but Canada Post warned that service will be affected well past the end of the strike.

Processing and delivery may take time to fully return to normal, it said.

The impact on orders placed with small businesses will depend on which courier service a business uses. Those using other couriers, such as FedEx, won’t face the same uncertainty, but The Canadian Press reported it could be more expensive.

According to CP, Bookbinder said retailers will likely pay 30 to 40 per cent more to use alternative shippers, which means customers may be charged more.

Canada Post and the postal workers’ union say they’ve agreed to continue delivering government benefit cheques including Old Age Security, despite the strike. Still, The Canadian Press reported that Service Canada has recommended setting up direct deposits to ensure those funds arrive without delay.

Banks have made similar recommendations to customers when it comes to billing and other communications.

Several Canadian banks are urging customers to switch to online statements and e-banking to stay on top of their statements, bills and other banking communications.

For example, CIBC said customers are required to make regular payments and meet financial obligations on credit cards, loans and mortgages even if the postal disruption happens. Other banks, including Bank of Montreal and Scotiabank have issued similar statements.

With files from The Canadian Press