Canada Post strike left 215K passports in limbo – and more delays could come
Global News
Service Canada has begun mailing out approximately 215,000 printed passports that were held during the month-long Canada Post strike.
Service Canada has begun mailing out hundreds of thousands of passports that were held during the month-long Canada Post strike, but more delays could come.
Employment and Social Development Canada told Global News on Monday that the strike had left approximately 215,000 printed passports and other passport program-related mail in the backlog since Nov. 8.
As of Dec. 1, 185,000 passports were stuck in the mail as Service Canada put a temporary hold on mailing out passport packages ahead of the strike. That number went up to 215,000 passports by the time the labour disruption ended on Dec. 17.
“Service Canada has worked with Canada Post on a plan for the resumption of mail service for passport delivery,” Liana Brault, an ESDC spokesperson, said in an emailed statement to Global News.
Despite the ramp-up in services, Canada Post has warned of mail delivery delays that could continue into early next year.
“Any new passport applications being processed and printed since December 16, 2024, will now be mailed to clients who request mail delivery as usual, however Canada Post has noted that there may be delays through the remainder of 2024 and into January 2025,” ESDC’s Brault said.
While the labour disruption continued, Service Canada shipped a limited number of held passports between Dec. 12 and 16, 2024 to select offices for customers who had initially requested mail delivery.
Canada Post workers returned to the job on Dec. 17 after they were ordered by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to end the countrywide strike.
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