As Canada Post resumes operations Tuesday and begins to recover from a month-long strike, Central Alberta residents are warned to expect continued delays in receiving benefit cheques and mail.
The strike, which began on November 15, halted operations nationwide and created significant backlogs in parcels and mail. Although the strike ends today, Canada Post has cautioned that restoring normal service will take time, and delays will likely continue into January 2025.
According to the Canada Revenue Agency, Canada Child Benefit (CCB) cheques and related provincial and territorial benefits are among the delayed items. These cheques, originally scheduled for delivery on December 13, will arrive on December 20. However, direct deposit payments were issued on time and remain unaffected.
The CRA has encouraged anyone who relies on benefit cheques to consider signing up for direct deposit to prevent future disruptions.
Canada Post said its priority will be clearing the mail and parcels stuck in its system since November. It will process them on a first-in, first-out basis. New commercial volumes will not be accepted until December 19, and delivery guarantees will remain suspended during this recovery period.
International mail is also heavily impacted, with significant backlogs to clear before new items can be accepted on December 23. Canada Post has advised that delays for international parcels may persist well into 2025.
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