Some City of Peterborough Services Disrupted From Canada Post Strike

Some City of Peterborough services will be affected by the Canada Post service disruption that started last Friday.

The CUPW had issued a strike earlier this year in late May. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Property tax bills, water services bills, and social services cheques will not be available through mail delivery.

Property tax installments 

The final property tax instalment is due on Tuesday.

To ensure tax payments are received on time during the Canada Post service disruption, residents can pay their property taxes in person at Service Peterborough, located in City Hall, 500 George St. N. or through their financial institution. 

Residents who are registered to MyTaxPortal can access their tax information by visiting peterborough.ca/mytaxportal. 

Drop box at City Hall

Cheque payments can be placed in a secured drop box outside the main entrance at City Hall, 500 George St. N. 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  

Through a bank

Property taxes can be paid like any other bill through online or telephone banking, or at a resident’s financial institution. The 15-digit roll number (XXX XXX XXXXX 0000) is used as the account number.

Service Peterborough

Tax payments can be paid by cash, cheque or debit card at the Service Peterborough counter at City Hall, 500 George St. N., during regular business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

By credit card

Property taxes can be paid online by credit card through an online bill payment service provider, such as PaySimply or Plastiq. Applicable service charges apply. 

Please note that credit card payments for property taxes will not be accepted for in-person payments at Service Peterborough, City Hall.

Water Services

Residents will not receive water service paper bills, collection notices, access letters for water meter repairs and high water notices during the Canada Post service disruption.

Customers can call Peterborough Water Services at 705-742-7777, ext. 2650, or email waterservices@peterborough.ca for information about their accounts, including assistance with receiving water bills electronically and details on paying water bills by credit card over the phone. 

Water service bills can be paid online through most financial institutions.  

Social Services 

Social Services clients can pick up cheques, letters and paper statements at the Social Services office, located at 178 Charlotte St., during office hours, Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staff will notify those who receive cheques when their payments will be available for pickup.   

Social Services clients who receive payments by cheque should discuss Direct Bank Deposit or reloadable payment cards with their case manager to prevent delays in assistance.

People are required to show identification when picking up cheques, statements or letters at the Social Services office.  

Those receiving paper letters and statements can also sign up for MyBenefits at https://mybenefits.mcss.gov.on.ca, an online portal that allows users to access their file information. 

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Canada Post Workers Launch Strike Amid Federal Government's Announced Changes; Expect Postal Delays

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has launched a national strike on Thursday afternoon following the federal government’s announcement of significant reforms.

The CUPW had issued a strike earlier this year in late May. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, made the announcement of Canada Post’s changes on Thursday.

“Canada Post is now facing an existential crisis. Since 2018, the corporation has accumulated more than $5 billion in losses. In 2024 alone, it lost over $1 billion and in 2025, it is already on track to lose close to $1.5 billion,” he said. “Earlier this year, the federal government provided a $1-billion injection to keep the corporation operational. In the second quarter of 2025, Canada Post posted its worst quarterly results ever, losing $407 million. Today, the corporation is losing approximately $10 million every day.”

The following are the changes that Lightbound had announced:

• Letter Mail Delivery Standards: Canada Post will introduce flexibilities to reflect today’s lower volumes. The average household receives just two letters per week, yet operations remain designed for far higher volumes. By adjusting standards so that non-urgent mail can move by ground instead of air, the corporation will save more than $20 million per year.

• Community Mailbox Conversions: The government is lifting the moratorium on community mailbox conversions. Currently, three-quarters of Canadians already receive mail through community, apartment, or rural mailboxes, while one-quarter still receive door-to-door delivery. Canada Post will be authorized to convert the remaining four million addresses to community mailboxes, generating close to $400 million in annual savings.

• Postal Network Modernization: The moratorium on rural post offices, in place since 1994, will also be lifted. The rural moratorium was imposed in 1994 and covers close to 4,000 locations. It has not evolved in 30 years, but Canada has changed.  This means that areas that used to be rural may now be suburban or even urban, but are still required to operate as rural post offices. Canada Post must return to the government with a plan to modernize and right-size its network.

CUPW released the following statement in response to Lightbound’s announcement:

“We’re disappointed that the union chose to escalate their strike activity, which will further deteriorate Canada Post’s financial situation. We understand that this latest update significantly impacts your business. Canada Post’s operations will shut down during a national strike, affecting millions of Canadians and businesses across the country.”

Mail and parcels are not being processed or delivered during the national strike and some post offices will be closed. Service guarantees are suspended for items already in the postal network. Customers have been notified that their scheduled pickups have been cancelled. Canada Post is not accepting new items until the national disruption is over.

CUPW assures all customers that all mail and parcels in the postal network will be secured and delivered as soon as possible once operations resume. When that happens, processing and delivery may take some time to return to normal fully.

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Canada Post Workers Set to Strike Friday Unless Agreement Is Reached

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has handed strike notices to Canada Post for both the urban and Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers bargaining units, announced on Monday.

Canada Post says The potential for another strike comes at a critical moment for the postal system. Since 2018, the Corporation has recorded more than $3 billion in losses before tax and it will post another significant loss for 2024. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

CUPW’s notice says they intend to begin strike activity on Friday noon barring an agreement from both parties. Canada Post’s operations continue as usual until there is a possible strike.

CUPW has released the following statement:

“We can confirm that a 72-hour strike notice has been issued. This step was taken in part to respond to the employer's recent indication that it may unilaterally change working conditions and suspend employee benefits.

This step was also taken to facilitate the continuation of our right to strike that was put on pause by the CIRB in December 2024. There is still time to return to the bargaining table. We remain committed to negotiating collective agreements and urge the employer to do the same.

Our goal continues to be negotiated collective agreements that support the well-being of workers, the communities we serve, and the sustainability of the public post.”

Should CUPW strike, Canada Post says it intends to continue delivering in unaffected areas while working to reach agreements. As a result of the strike, customers may experience service delays.

According to Canada Post, if there is a national labour disruption, mail and parcels will not be delivered, and no new items will be accepted until it ends. Once operations resume, all mail and parcels in their network will be secured and delivered as quickly as possible.

Canada Post expects that processing and delivery may take some time to fully return to normal following a rotating strike or a national labour disruption.

They released a statement regarding the ongoing negotiation status between he two parties:

“Canada Post remains committed to reaching collective agreements focused on protecting and enhancing the wages and benefits that are important to our people while reflecting the Corporations’ current realities.”

Earlier this year, the Government of Canada announced repayable funding of up to $1.034 billion for Canada Post to prevent insolvency.

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City of Peterborough Give January Update For Social Services Mail Delivery During Canada Post Strike

The City of Peterborough has provided an update on details released on how Social Services clients and vendors typically receive cheques, statements, or letters by mail for January.

File Photo.

Due to an anticipated backlog at Canada Post, clients and vendors who typically receive Social Assistance payments mailed can pick up their December cheques from the Social Services Office, 178 Charlotte St starting Jan. 2.

Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

People must show identification when picking up cheques, statements, or letters at Social Services.

For clients who can receive direct deposit, Social Services is encouraging them to arrange for direct deposit or reloadable payment cards as an alternative and to ensure they are signed up for the MyBenefits program to track payments and support communication.

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City of Peterborough Provides Update For Social Services Mail Delivery During Canada Post Strike

The City of Peterborough has provided an update on details have released on how Social Services clients and vendors typically receive cheques, statements, or letters by mail.

File Photo.

Beginning Friday, clients and vendors who typically receive Social Assistance payments mailed can pick up their December cheques from the Social Services Office, 178 Charlotte St.

Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

People must show identification when picking up cheques, statements, or letters at Social Services.

For clients who can receive direct deposit, Social Services is encouraging them to arrange for direct deposit or reloadable payment cards as an alternative and to ensure they are signed up for the MyBenefits program to track payments and support communication.

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City of Peterborough Details Social Services Mail Delivery During Canada Post Strike

Details have been released on how Social Services clients and vendors typically receive cheques, statements, or letters by mail from the City of Peterborough.

File Photo.

During the Canada Post strike, they can pick up the items at the Social Services office at 178 Charlotte St. during office hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staff will notify those who receive cheques when their payments will be available for pick-up. 

People must show identification when picking up cheques, statements, or letters at Social Services.

For clients who can receive direct deposit, Social Services is encouraging them to arrange for direct deposit or reloadable payment cards as an alternative and to ensure they are signed up for the MyBenefits program to track payments and support communication.

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Here Are Your Canada Post Holiday Shipping Deadlines

The Canada Post Holiday shipping deadlines are fast approaching! If you are planning to get your Holiday cards or a package delivered in time for that special someone, it is time to get down to your local Canada Post outlet.

Here is Canada Post's suggested mailing deadlines...

Holiday Cards

Local Delivery: December 19

Within Ontario: December 16

Outside Ontario: December 15

Holiday Packages

Regular Parcels: December 12

Xpresspost: December 21

Priority Next A.M.: December 22

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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