The Government of Saskatchewan and the City of Weyburn are preparing for a potential postal strike by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, which could begin as early as May 22nd after a strike notice was served over the long weekend.
In the event of a strike, mail delivery will be delayed, and residents, clients, and businesses are encouraged to take steps now to stay ahead of any potential impacts. The City of Weyburn is closely monitoring the situation and reminds residents that, even if Canada Post service is disrupted, they are still responsible for keeping accounts in good standing to avoid late fees or service disconnections.
To avoid disruption in receiving invoices, Weyburn residents are encouraged to sign up for eBilling. If your account is at risk of disconnection, the City will attempt to contact you using the information on file, whether by email, text message, or phone. If your contact information is outdated or unavailable, the disconnection process will move forward. Residents are urged to keep their contact details current.
For payments, the City of Weyburn is advising residents of several alternatives to mailing a cheque. You can pay in person at City Hall using cash, cheque, or debit. A night deposit box is also available outside the main entrance. The Pre-authorized Payment Plan offers automatic withdrawals from your bank account. You can also pay online or via telephone banking through your financial institution, or by credit card online, which includes a 2% service fee.
The Government of Saskatchewan is similarly advising all residents and businesses to switch to direct deposit for government-issued payments to avoid delays. This includes social services benefits, tax refunds, grant payments, and crop insurance payouts. Clients of Social Services and the Public Guardian and Trustee are especially encouraged to make the switch.
For the Ministry of Social Services, some benefits cheques were mailed out early, ahead of any potential mail disruption, to ensure clients will receive their benefits in a timely manner.
Postal delays may also affect health cards and vital statistics documents such as birth, marriage, or death certificates. These can be applied for online via eHealth Saskatchewan. Similarly, letters for drug plan coverage and other extended benefits will be held until normal mail service resumes, although requests can still be submitted through the Saskatchewan Formulary online.
Taxpayers are reminded that tax filing and payment deadlines remain unchanged, even during a postal strike. The province’s Saskatchewan eTax Services (SETS) portal allows businesses to file and pay taxes online. For those not already using direct deposit, refund or grant payments may be delayed.
Saskatchewan's major Crown corporations, SGI, SaskTel, SaskPower, and SaskEnergy, are also advising customers to sign up for online billing and notifications to avoid delays in receiving bills or updates on service. Websites for each Crown utility provide further options for payments, updates, and customer service during any potential postal disruption.