Alberta government activates contingency mail plan during Canada Post disruption

A mail box is seen outside a Canada Post office in Halifax on Wednesday, July 6, 2016. Canada Post has issued a lockout notice to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), possibly triggering a work stoppage by Friday, July 8. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

The Alberta government is activating a contingency mail plan in response to the Canada Post strike and service disruption that began on Sept. 25.

Starting Wednesday, Alberta government offices will accept “critical mail” from Albertans and have it delivered to its proper destination, according to a government release. Officials say no stamps are required.

Mail is considered critical if it must reach an individual to avoid certain health, safety, financial or significant harm to Albertans or to the government, or will lead to legislative non-compliance, and that cannot be sent by other means such as fax, electronically or with another courier service.

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Albertans who receive mail from the provincial government will get a pick-up/drop-off notification by email or phone. The government warns about online scams, and advises that they will never ask for personal information or ask anyone to click on a link in an email.

According to the Alberta government, some socio-economic cheques will still be delivered by Canada Post once-a-month during the service disruption.

These cheques include:

• Assured income for the severely handicapped (AISH) payments;
• income support payments;
• seniors’ benefits;
• family support for children with disabilities supports; and
• office of the public guardian and trustee supports.

For more information or to find out how to sign up for direct deposit for government cheques, Albertans are asked to contact the department that issues the payment.

A full list of designated government buildings in the province can be found on alberta.ca.