Canada Post workers are on strike for the second time in less than a year after Ottawa announced it would be ending home mail delivery. The national strike by workers is now disrupting mail and parcel delivery, including here in the 705 region of Ontario. For local residents, the strike means delays in receiving and sending bills, payments, and other important documents.
Municipalities are reminding residents that payments and deadlines are still in effect despite the strike. Residents are responsible for paying property tax, water, wastewater bills, and fines on time.
Online banking or third-party online payment providers include:
- In-person payments at banks or your local City Hall
- Pre-authorized payment plans for property taxes
The District of Muskoka says the strike affects clients of Ontario Works and those making water and sewer payments. Cheques will not be mailed during the disruption, but clients can pick them up at Community Service Hubs in Gravenhurst, Bracebridge or Huntsville.
Water and sewer bills can be paid through pre-authorized debit, online banking, at financial institutions, or in person at District offices. Provincial offences tickets can still be paid online at paytickets.ca or in person at court offices.
In Almaguin, some post offices will be closed, so check with your local office for availability.
You should use alternative couriers for passports. While Canada Post is affected, other services like Purolator and Amazon are still operating, though Amazon uses a variety of carriers. Please note that some couriers do no serve rural communities.
The ongoing contract disputes between the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) and Canada Post, involve issues like wages, benefits, and concerns about government-mandated changes to delivery services. The move came hours after the federal government announced major reforms to Canada Post, instructing the Crown Corporation to end home delivery and close some rural mail outlets. Canada Post lost $448 million before tax in the first half of 2025, following a loss before tax of $30 million in the first half of 2024.
