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.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Provincial Offences Act Office Relocating to City Hall On Oct. 1

The Provincial Offences Act office, responsible for processing Provincial Offences Act fines, tickets, forms, trials, and resolution meetings, will relocate to City Hall, effective Oct. 1. 

File Photo.

The current location at 99 Simcoe St. will be permanently closed as of 4:30 p.m. on September 29.

To facilitate the relocation, the office will be closed on Sept. 30. The new location at City Hall will open at 8:30 a.m. The Provincial Offences Act counter for inquiries and payments will be located on the first floor of the north wing, Carnegie Annex of City Hall, next to the Plan-Build customer service counter.  

Those seeking the Provincial Offences Act Office are asked to use the door facing George Street at the north end of the building, closest to the intersection of McDonnel and George Streets. For accessible entry, the door between the north wing and the main City Hall entrance will lead customers to an elevator, providing access to the first floor of the north wing. 

The Provincial Offences Act counter is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. It is closed on statutory holidays. It can be reached by phone at 705-742-7777, ext. 2099 or by email at poacourt@peterborough.ca.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Routine Watermain Flushing Begins Monday

Routine flushing of water mains in various areas of the city will take place from Monday through November 21.   

Watermain flushing is a routine part of the annual system maintenance by the City’s Water Services Division to assist in maintaining water quality and reliability of the water distribution system.  Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Flushing will take place on weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.    

During flushing, residents may notice a temporary discoluoration or cloudy appearance in their water for a brief period, as well as possible changes in water pressure. The City of Peterborough says the water will remain safe for consumption.   

If water appears discoloured, run the cold water tap closest to the water source for 20 to 30 minutes or until the water clears. If the issue persists, contact Water Services by phone at 705-748-9301 ext. 1295.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

List of City Services During Labour Day Monday 2025

On Labour Day Monday, many City of Peterborough services and facilities will operate on holiday hours or will be closed.

File Photo.

City Hall 

City Hall offices, including Service Peterborough, Building Services and the Clerk’s Office will be closed on Monday, September 1. Online services are available at peterborough.ca. 

Waste collection and facilities 

There are no changes to the curbside waste collection schedule. 

The City/County Landfill at 1260 Bensfort Rd. will be closed. 

The Hazardous and Electronic Waste Depot at 400 Pido Rd. will be closed. The Hazardous and Electronic Waste Depot’s normal operating hours are Wednesday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Transit 

Peterborough Transit will operate on a Sunday/Holiday service schedule on Monday, September 1. The Customer Service desk will be open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Visit peterborough.ca/transit for details or call Transit Customer Service at 705-745-0525. 

Airport 

Peterborough Regional Airport will be open regular hours, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit peterborough.ca/airport for more information. 

Art Gallery of Peterborough 

Art Gallery of Peterborough at 250 Crescent St. will be closed on the Labour Day Holiday. For information about gallery exhibitions and programs visit agp.on.ca. 

Peterborough Public Library 

The Peterborough Public Library,345 Aylmer St. N., and the Miskin Law Community Complex branch, 271 Lansdowne St. W., will be closed on Monday, September 1. Information and digital resources are available online at ptbolibrary.ca.  

Peterborough Museum and Archives 

The Peterborough Museum and Archives at 300 Hunter St. E., will be open noon to 5 p.m. on the Labour Day Holiday. Information on exhibits and events is online at peterborough.ca/museum. 

Recreation facilities and arenas 

The Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre at 775 Brealey Dr. and the Miskin Law Community Complex at 271 Lansdowne St. W. will be open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, September 1. 

The Kinsmen Civic Centre, Healthy Planet Arena, McDonnel Street Community Centre and the Recreation Facility Booking office will be closed. Ticket sales are available online at memorialcentre.ca.

Beaches, splash pads and wading pools  

Splash pads in City parks are open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The splash pad at the Riverview Park and Zoo is open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

The lifeguard program at Beavermead Park has ended, the beach is unsupervised. City wading pools are closed for the season. 

Marina  

Customer service at Peterborough Marina will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.  

Riverview Park and Zoo 

The Riverview Park and Zoo is open from 8:30 a.m. to dusk. Guest Services is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Otter Enrichment takes place at 1:30 p.m. The splash pad at the Zoo will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

The Hatch Coffee Shop will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

The Miniature Train is closed for the season for construction work on the Water Street dam. 

There is a barbeque ban in effect for all Zoo and Park areas until further notice, including picnic shelter rentals.

Parking Services 

Parking in City-operated parking garages, surface lots and on-street parking spaces is free on holidays. The Parking Services office located in the King Street Parkade will be closed on the Labour Day Holiday. Visit peterborough.ca/parking to find more information, including locations. 

Provincial Offences office  

The Provincial Offences office at 99 Simcoe St. will be closed on Monday, September 1 and will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 2.  Fine payments can be made online at peterborough.ca/POA.  

Social Services  

Social Services office at 178 Charlotte St. will be closed on Monday, September 1. Beginning Tuesday, September 2, Social Services will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

City-operated child care centres will be closed.  

Emergency shelter services remain open: to access emergency shelter services outside of regular business hours or on holidays, please call After Hours service at 705-926-0096.  

Public Works

Public Works can be reached at 705-745-1386. This line is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

List of City Services On Civic Holiday (Aug. 4)

For the Civic Holiday on Monday, many City services and facilities will be operating under holiday hours or will be closed.

File Photo.

City Hall  

City Hall offices, including Service Peterborough, Building Services and the Clerk’s Office will be closed on August 4. Online services are available at peterborough.ca.  

Waste collection and facilities  

There are no changes to the curbside waste collection schedule.  

The City/County Landfill at 1260 Bensfort Rd. will be closed.  

The Hazardous and Electronic Waste Depot at 400 Pido Rd. will be closed. The Hazardous and Electronic Waste Depot’s normal operating hours are Wednesday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Transit  

Peterborough Transit will operate on a Sunday/Holiday service schedule on Monday. The Customer Service desk will be open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Visit peterborough.ca/transit for details or call Transit Customer Service at 705-745-0525.  

Airport  

Peterborough Regional Airport will be open regular hours, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit peterborough.ca/airport for more information.  

Art Gallery of Peterborough  

The Art Gallery of Peterborough at 250 Crescent St. will be closed on the Civic Holiday.

Peterborough Public Library  

The Peterborough Public Library at 345 Aylmer St. N. and the Miskin Law Community Complex branch will be closed on Monday, August 4. Information and digital resources are available online at ptbolibrary.ca.   

Peterborough Museum and Archives  

The Peterborough Museum and Archives at 300 Hunter St. E. will be open noon to 5 p.m. on the Civic Holiday. Information on exhibits and events is online at peterborough.ca/museum.  

Recreation facilities and arenas  

The Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre at 775 Brealey Dr. and the Miskin Law Community Complex at 271 Lansdowne St. W. will be open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday. 

The Kinsmen Civic Centre, Healthy Planet Arena, McDonnel Street Community Centre and the Recreation Facility Booking office will be closed. 

A Major Series Lacrosse semi-finals game will take place at 7 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre, 151 Lansdowne St. W., with Peterborough Lakers hosting the Brooklin Lacrosse Club. The Grant Thornton Box Office will be open from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday. Tickets for Memorial Centre events are also available for purchase online at memorialcentre.ca.   

Beaches, splash pads and wading pools   

Lifeguards will be on duty at Beavermead beach, 2011 Ashburnham Dr., from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Peterborough Public Health tests water at local beaches. Water testing results are posted at the beaches, and available online at peterboroughpublichealth.ca.   

Splash pads in City parks are open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The splash pad at the Riverview Park and Zoo is open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.  

Lifeguards supervise City wading pools daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.   

Marina   

Customer service at Peterborough Marina will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.   

Riverview Park and Zoo  

The Riverview Park and Zoo is open from 8:30 a.m. to dusk. Guest Services is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Otter Enrichment takes place at 1:30 p.m., and a Meet the Keeper session will take place at 2:30 p.m. The splash pad at the Zoo will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

The Hatch Coffee Shop will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Monday is the last day to ride the Miniature Train before it closes for the season for construction work on the Water Street dam. The train will operate from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. throughout the holiday weekend. 

Parking Services  

Parking in City-operated parking garages, surface lots and on-street parking spaces is free on holidays. The Parking Services office located in the King Street Parkade will be closed on the Civic Holiday. Visit peterborough.ca/parking to find more information, including locations.  

Provincial Offences office   

The Provincial Offences office at 99 Simcoe St. will be closed on Monday, August 4. Fine payments can be made online at peterborough.ca/POA.   

Social Services   

Social Services office at 178 Charlotte St. will be closed on Monday.  

City-operated child care centres will be closed.   

Emergency shelter services remain open: to access emergency shelter services outside of regular business hours or on holidays, please call After Hours service at 705-926-0096.   

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

How to Stay Cool Outdoors In the City of Peterborough

With temperatures rising above 30 C lasting over the next few days, there are several ways to keep cool this summer.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The drop-in program at Trinity Community Centre, 360 Reid St., is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. for individuals to access resources, community connection and systems navigation support. The overnight program is open 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.  

Outdoor water bottle filling stations are available at City facilities in the following locations: 

• Quaker Foods City Square, 215 Charlotte St. 

• Eastgate Park, 2150 Ashburnham Dr. 

• Peterborough Marina, 92 George St. N. 

• Beavermead Park washroom facilities, 2011 Ashburnham Dr. 

• Rogers Cove washroom facilities, 131 Maria St.  

Water bottles can also be refilled inside the following City facilities during hours of operation: 

• Peterborough Public Library, 345 Aylmer St. 

• Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, 775 Brealey Dr. 

• Healthy Planet Arena, 911 Monaghan Rd. 

• Kinsmen Civic Centre, 1 Kinsmen Way 

• Social Services office, 178 Charlotte St. 

• Miskin Law Community Complex, 271 Lansdowne St. W. 

Beavermead Beach is currently not supervised. Lifeguard supervision begins on Saturday and continues daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Aug. 31.  

The beach at Rogers Cove will not be supervised by a lifeguard this year but will continue to be maintained by the City of Peterborough.

Peterborough Public Health monitors the water quality at Beavermead Beach and Rogers Cove.

Splash pads are open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The splash pad at Riverview Park and Zoo is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Splash pad locations:

• Rogers Cove, 131 Maria St.  

• Nicholls Oval Park, 725 Armour Rd.   

• King Edward Park, 455 George St. S.  

• Turner Park,673 Chamberlain St.   

• Hamilton Park, 575 Bonaccord St.   

• Barnardo Park, 955 Barnardo Ave.   

• Kinsmen Park, 1 Kinsmen Way   

• Riverview Park and Zoo, 1300 Water St. N.   

• A water feature also exists at Quaker Foods City Square, 215 Charlotte St. 

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Patio Season Returns to Downtown Peterborough

With the sun shining and the warmer weather, patio season is ramping up as the installation of expanded areas and more pedestrian space for people visiting downtown Peterborough is mostly occuring on Wednesday.

File Photo.

Some on-street patios have already been installed. The City will be installing decorative fencing and planter boxes next to businesses that have obtained approved patio permits. 

Expanded patios are planned for George, Water, Simcoe and Charlotte streets. Businesses that do not have widened sidewalks in front of the establishment will be permitted to use the on-street parking area in front of the business for patio operations. 

Patio season changes include the reconfiguration of Hunter Street West between George and Aylmer streets into a one-lane, one-way street westbound to facilitate more patio and pedestrian space. Within the Café District along Hunter Street West, the expanded sidewalk space for patios, along with the temporary lane reconfigurations, will create additional room for people to enjoy businesses and outdoor restaurant spaces. This year, Chambers Street will remain a regular one-way road and will not be closed at Hunter Street.  

Reduced speed limits will be implemented on streets with patios to ensure the safety of pedestrians and customers. Parking spaces, including accessible spaces, loading zones and designated waste pick-up areas, may be adjusted once patio locations have been confirmed with participating businesses. 

Patio Permit applications for the 2025 season are now closed. Patio Permits are required for all individuals, partnerships or corporations who are proposing to place a patio, including bistro-style tables and chairs on City-owned lands. Businesses operating patios on private lands may require a permit and ta emporary liquor licence extension.

To ensure compliance with patio permits and limit the City’s risk related to non-permitted patios operating on city-owned lands, an Administrative Monetary Penalty System has been implemented. This system will create an enforcement process for businesses that are not in compliance with their permit or have not obtained a permit.

The Sidewalk Patio Program began in 1997, which included bistro-style tables on the sidewalks adjacent to the building facades. The program was later expanded to include the creation of the Hunter Street Café District in 2005. This is the sixth consecutive summer that the City is implementing temporary changes to downtown public spaces to accommodate more patios and expanded pedestrian areas.   

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

City Finishes Removal of Ice Storm Brush

The City of Peterborough has finished its removal of brush and debris from the March ice storm.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

According to the City, crews removed more than 6,500 tonnes of brush, debris and tree branches from City boulevards. That took approximately eight weeks.  

Storm debris that was not placed at the curb for removal or placed on the curb after city crews had completed the street will not be picked up, unless it meets the guidelines for curbside yard waste collection.  

Debris can be disposed of through the City’s curbside yard waste collection program or at the Peterborough Waste Management Facility, 1260 Bensfort Rd. 

Yard waste set out requirements are as follows: 

• Yard waste must be placed in brown paper bags, marked bins or a bushel basket. No other type of bin will be collected (including blue boxes). Plastic bags will not be accepted. 

• Marked bins must contain a maximum volume of 80 litres, with two fixed handles. Lids must be removable and not secured by any means (bungee cords, etc.). Yard waste material must empty freely when emptied/dumped by the collector.  

• Bins must have two clearly identifiable yellow labels attached defining the contents as yard waste.  The yellow labels are available for no charge at City Hall, 500 George St. N. 

• Weight limit must be less than 13 kilograms (30 lbs.).  

• Brush can be tied in bundles with light rope or twine, weighing not more than 13 kilograms (30 lbs.), with a length of up to one meter (three feet) and a diameter of up to 30 centimeters (12 inches). 

The Peterborough Waste Management Facility accepts yard waste and is open from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday to Friday and from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Saturdays. Tipping fees apply.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Tax Installment Payments Options During Canada Post Labour Dispute

With the ongoing labour dispute with Canada Post, mail delivery may be delayed which could disrupt the next interim tax installment, due this Friday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

To ensure tax payments are received on time, the City has provided alternate ways to sending tax payments in the mail:  

Drop Box at City Hall 

Cheque payments can be placed in a secure drop box out front 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. 

At Service Peterborough 

Tax payments can be made by cash, cheque or debit card at the Service Peterborough location 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 at the City Hall Tax Office.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

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.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.