It’s been over a week since Canada Post was paralyzed by its second strike in less than a year, leaving many wondering when, or if, normal service will resume.
The impact of this postal shutdown varies dramatically across the country, with location playing a critical role. Our colleague Matina Stevis-Gridneff recently highlighted the indispensable nature of the postal system for remote communities like Fort Simpson in the Northwest Territories.
Read: In the Far North, Canada Post Is Not Just the Mail. It’s a Lifeline.
Last Friday, Canada Post tabled its latest contract offer to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. This proposal, influenced by government mandates to cease door-to-door delivery and reduce rural post offices, sought to eliminate job guarantees and defined severance terms for laid-off employees. However, the union quickly dismissed it, stating it was even less favorable than a previous offer rejected by its members in August.
For a comprehensive overview, the following article clarifies the key aspects of this ongoing dispute.
Read: What to Know About the Canada Post Strike
We extend our gratitude to the many readers who responded to our invitation last week, sharing their perspectives on the future of Canada Post. Below is a curated selection of their thoughts, edited for brevity and clarity.
A Warm Welcome
In Arundel, Quebec, the local post office, housed in an old train station, serves as a vital community hub. Visitors are greeted warmly in both official languages by the postmistress, often finding themselves engaged in lively conversations with neighbors.
The postal service is inherently a public service, a crucial thread connecting communities, the entire nation, and even Canada to the global stage (despite recent U.S. tariff challenges). Its role extends far beyond merely delivering mail and parcels.
— Anne Balcer, Barkmere, Quebec
A Letter Carrier’s Pride
As a proud letter carrier in downtown Hamilton, Ontario, I’ve observed firsthand how crucial mail delivery is, especially for those in more vulnerable societal positions. Their reliance on letter mail for essential needs is often directly tied to their economic security.
In my role as a relief letter carrier, covering routes for colleagues on vacation, I take immense pride in providing consistent service. Every day, I deliver to affluent, middle-class, and struggling neighborhoods alike, ensuring that everyone receives the same standard of mail delivery.
— Kevin Delaney, Hamilton, Ontario
Going Paperless
About a decade ago, our daily home mail delivery was replaced by a community mailbox located just a block away. I don’t miss home delivery, as our regular mail mostly consists of flyers, the water bill, and a single credit card statement (I’m actively exploring paperless options for these last two items).
Canada Post should operate as a public service, not be forced to generate profit. While I accept this, I strongly believe they should continue providing mail service to community boxes. As long as operations are efficient, profitability isn’t my primary concern.
— Barry Ripley, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
A Business Headache
For businesses dealing with high-value product shipments, Canada Post typically remains the preferred choice. While we resort to alternative carriers during strikes, it’s always with reluctance due to significantly increased shipping expenses.
The intermittent nature of this dispute has proven to be profoundly disruptive and incredibly frustrating. It appears the union leadership is negotiating without fully acknowledging Canada Post’s precarious financial situation. Ultimately, I believe it’s the federal government’s responsibility to resolve this ongoing crisis.
— Alex Sebastian, Toronto
A Dinosaur
I firmly believe Canada Post should be phased out over the next five years. In today’s technological landscape, there’s no longer a logical need for home mail delivery or even community mailboxes. I can’t think of any seniors who don’t own a connected phone or iPad.
Ninety-nine percent of my incoming mail goes directly into the recycling bin – a significant waste of resources. Businesses now have numerous alternative channels to connect with consumers. Similarly, charities should reconsider their fundraising tactics to avoid squandering time and money on sending me unwanted cards, grocery bags, and pens that ultimately get discarded. Canada Post is clearly an outdated institution, a reality the government recognizes, even if the postal workers don’t.
— Loretta Grandan, Calgary
A Different Relationship with the Mail
As seniors, our relationship with mail differs considerably from that of younger generations. We still occasionally receive payments via physical checks. Despite often finding empty, we check our community post box daily. We intentionally send birthday cards and postcards.
I cherish the unique experiences of visiting post offices in unfamiliar small towns, engaging in friendly conversations with the staff, soaking in the local language, the ritual of letter writing, the anticipation and joy of receiving mail, and the profound geographical understanding of this nation that the postal system has helped instill.
— Sandy McLennan, Port Sydney, Ontario
Trans Canada
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Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to meet with President Trump at the White House next week, following subtle hints that the U.S. might ease or cut some tariffs on Canada. This comes after Mr. Trump recently imposed further tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber.
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Canadian travelers, expressing their discontent over President Trump’s trade policies, have largely avoided Las Vegas, contributing significantly to the city’s decrease in tourism.
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Leo Gerard, the visionary who led the United Steelworkers for many years, expanding it into North America’s largest industrial union, passed away in Sudbury, Ontario.
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According to a new study published in the journal Science, devastating and expensive wildfires are becoming increasingly common.
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Could bathhouses be an answer to our pervasive loneliness? Melissa Kirsch, a Culture editor at The Times, explored this question at a bathhouse chain originating from a Toronto entrepreneur.
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Researchers at the University of Toronto have potentially discovered the world’s oldest leech species, identified from a fossil unearthed in Wisconsin.
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During the U.S. government shutdown, the Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds precision flying team became the unexpected star attraction at several American air shows.
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Toronto Pearson International Airport experienced two technology outages at its immigration kiosks this week, though operations were swiftly restored each time.
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In May 1990, a police warning in Toronto inspired Madonna to create a memorable, defiant pose for Interview magazine’s June cover, an image T Magazine has since hailed as one of the 25 most influential magazine covers in history.
Ian Austen reports on Canada for The Times. A Windsor, Ontario, native now based in Ottawa, he has reported on the country for two decades. He can be reached at austen@nytimes.com.
Vjosa Isai is a reporter for The Times based in Toronto, where she covers news from across Canada.
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