Table of contents:
- Canada Post backlog and its impact
- Service Canada's responses to the disruption
- Advice for travelers affected by delays
- Return-to-work order and ongoing challenges
Canada Post backlog and its impact
The month-long Canada Post strike resulted in approximately 215,000 passports and related mail being delayed. The backlog began building on Nov. 8, 2024, when Service Canada temporarily halted mailing passport packages. By the time the strike ended on Dec. 17, the backlog had reached its peak.
As of Dec. 19, Canada Post began collecting held passports for delivery. However, the Crown corporation warned that delivery delays would continue due to the significant volume of items in the backlog. Domestic parcels and deliveries to rural areas remain particularly affected.
Service Canada's responses to the disruption
Service Canada collaborated with Canada Post to create a plan for resuming mail services. Between Dec. 12 and 16, 2024, limited shipments of held passports were made to select offices for customers with urgent travel needs. Since Dec. 17, Service Canada has worked to process and mail out passports printed during the strike.
Liana Brault, a spokesperson for Employment and Social Development Canada, stated that new passport applications processed after Dec. 16, 2024, would be mailed as usual. She acknowledged that delays could extend into January 2025 due to the backlog.
Advice for travelers affected by delays
Canadians awaiting their passports and needing to travel urgently are advised to contact the Passport Program or visit a Service Canada centre. Those with travel plans within the next six weeks are encouraged to apply early at Service Canada locations offering 10-business-day service to minimize delays.
The government has prioritized processing applications and addressing urgent cases, though demand remains high due to the strike's impact.
Return-to-work order and ongoing challenges
On Dec. 15, 2024, the Canada Industrial Relations Board ordered postal workers back to work following a request from Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon. The CIRB determined that a deal between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers was unlikely before year-end.
Canada Post resumed full operations on Dec. 18. Despite this, the volume of delayed mail has created challenges in clearing the backlog. The corporation emphasized its commitment to processing items safely and efficiently while managing new deliveries.
Canadians are urged to remain patient as both Service Canada and Canada Post continue their efforts to resolve delays caused by the labour disruption.
source: Global News
There are a variety of reasons why someone may choose to travel to another country. It could be for business
Service Canada has resumed mailing passports following the Canada Post strike that disrupted operations for over a month. Despite efforts
The Government of Canada has issued updated warnings for citizens traveling abroad during the upcoming holidays. Travelers may face risks
