Service Canada holding 85,000 passports as Canada Post strike continues

Service Canada Holds Back 85,000 Passports Amid Canada Post Strike

Service Canada has delayed mailing approximately 85,000 passports due to the ongoing labor dispute at Canada Post.

According to Employment and Social Development Canada, Service Canada halted the dispatch of passport packages on November 8, anticipating a potential postal disruption. This decision came a week before postal workers initiated a nationwide strike on November 15, demanding better wages, improved working conditions, and other reforms.

Nationwide Impact of Strike
The strike has brought Canada Post services to a standstill, affecting millions of Canadians and businesses just as the holiday season begins, a critical period for small businesses and individuals relying on mail delivery.

Precautionary Measures
Mila Roy, spokesperson for Employment and Social Development Canada, explained in a statement on Tuesday that the decision to hold passports was a precaution to prevent them from being stuck in Canada Post distribution centers during the work stoppage.

"By holding residential mail several days in advance of a work stoppage, Service Canada has reduced the risk of having any passports held in Canada Post distribution centres," Roy stated.

She also noted that applications mailed shortly before the strike may not have reached Service Canada. In such cases, processing will resume only when postal services are back to normal.

Options for Urgent Cases
Canadians who have already submitted an application and require their passport urgently are advised to contact the Passport Program at 1-800-567-6868 or request a transfer to a Service Canada center that offers pick-up services.

Service Canada confirmed that passports will be sent out to clients once the strike concludes and regular mail service resumes.