Canada Post service disruption

Overview

The service disruption, which began November 15, 2024, is a result of a labour dispute between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW).

To mitigate the effects of the service interruption, the Government of Alberta will activate its mail services contingency plan effective November 19.

Additional information will be published as it is required or becomes available. 

Critical mail delivery

During the period when the contingency plan is in effect, only critical mail will be delivered to the general public during the work interruption.

• Critical mail is material which must reach its intended recipient to avoid health, safety, financial or other significant harm to Albertans, significant risk or loss to government, or legislative non-compliance and that cannot be delivered expediently by courier, fax, electronic or other means. 

Sending and receiving government mail

Government mail will continue to be accepted from Albertans at designated Alberta government offices across the province to ensure it reaches the proper destination. No stamps are required.

Albertans who receive mail from the provincial government will receive a notification indicating where and when they can pick their mail. Alberta’s government will never ask for personal information over the phone or for anyone to click on a link in an email. Albertans picking up mail from a government office will be asked to show government-issued photo ID. Acceptable forms of identification include driver’s licence, provincial ID card or passport.

Non-essential mail will be held by the originating department until Canada Post mail service resumes.

See a list of government mail drop locations below (Effective November 19)

Socio-economic cheques

Some departments are participating in a Canada Post program to deliver social-economic cheques once a month during the disruption. This is in addition to contingent mail services undertaken by the Government of Alberta.

Many departments that issue cheques also offer direct deposit. For more information, or to inquire about signing up for direct deposit, Albertans should contact the government department that issues the payment. 

Government mail drop locations – Effective November 19