More than 55,000 postal workers went back on the job on Tuesday, ordered by the Canada Industrial Relations Board after it determined a deal could not be reached before the end of the year. Following a month-long strike, the postal workers began to process pending mail and accept new shipments from customers.

Canada Post said mail is being processed on a first-in, first-out basis, and it will start accepting new international mail on Dec. 23.

Along with accepting commercial volumes of letters and parcels starting Thursday, Dec.19, Canada Post says small business customers can now drop off parcels at all Canada Post facilities.

However, the postal service has warned that Canadians should expect delays through the remainder of 2024 and into January 2025 as it deals with the backlog of mail.

While shipments are slowly moving again, the damage is already done for many retailers, as the busiest shopping window has already closed, which is typically the best time of year for retail.

Service Canada has worked with Canada Post on a plan for the resumption of mail service for passport delivery. Service Canada has begun mailing out the approximately 215,000 printed passports along with other passport program related mail that had been securely held since November 8, 2024. Canadians can use the online Passport Application Status Checker to monitor the processing of their passport and obtain the Canada Post tracking number to track the mail delivery.

Any new passport applications being processed and printed since December 16, 2024, will now be mailed to clients who request mail delivery as usual. However, Canada Post has noted that there may be delays into the new year.

For more information and instructions for passport applicants, please refer to this info sheet provided by Service Canada: Service Canada response to Canada Post labour disruption ending

Matt Jeneroux, MP
Edmonton Riverbend