Service Canada has begun mailing out tons of of hundreds of passports that had been held in the course of the month-long Canada Post strike, however extra delays might come.
Employment and Social Growth Canada advised World Information on Monday that the strike had left roughly 215,000 printed passports and different passport program-related mail within the backlog since Nov. 8.
As of Dec. 1, 185,000 passports were stuck in the mail as Service Canada put a brief maintain on mailing out passport packages. That quantity went as much as 215,000 passports by the point the labour disruption ended on Dec. 17.
“Service Canada has labored with Canada Publish on a plan for the resumption of mail service for passport supply,” Liana Brault, an ESDC spokesperson, stated in an emailed assertion to World Information.
Regardless of the ramp-up in companies, Canada Post has warned of mail delivery delays that would proceed into early subsequent yr.
“Any new passport functions being processed and printed since December 16, 2024, will now be mailed to shoppers who request mail supply as traditional, nonetheless Canada Publish has famous that there could also be delays by means of the rest of 2024 and into January 2025,” ESDC’s Brault stated.
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Whereas the labour disruption continued, Service Canada shipped a restricted variety of held passports between Dec. 12 and 16, 2024 to pick out places of work for patrons who had initially requested mail supply.
Canada Post workers returned to the job on Dec. 17 after they had been ordered by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to finish the countrywide strike.
Since then, Service Canada has been making its method by means of the mountain of backlog as Canada Post gradually ramps up its operations.
Canadians who’re nonetheless ready for his or her passport and must journey urgently are suggested to contact the Passport Program or go to a Service Canada centre.
“Those that might be travelling within the subsequent 6 weeks ought to apply for his or her passport as early as attainable at a Service Canada level of service that provides 10-business day service to keep away from any delays,” Brault stated.
Greater than 55,000 postal staff went on strike on Nov. 15. The Canadian Union of Postal Staff was in search of wage will increase, higher pensions and improved well being advantages.
On Dec. 15, the CIRB, upon a request from Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon, ordered staff again to work after it decided that Canada Publish and CUPW had been unlikely to achieve a deal by the tip of the yr.
The Crown company stated its community grew to become absolutely operational on Dec. 18.
© 2024 World Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
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