Contingency plans in place during Canada Post disruption in B.C.

VICTORIA – Arrangements are being made to ensure that British Columbians continue to receive cheques and critical documents in the event of a Canada Post labour disruption.

British Columbians who receive government funds by direct deposit will not be affected by the labour action and will continue to receive their payments.

For those citizens who typically receive payments by regular mail such as income and disability assistance, childcare subsidies, or critical documents such as Residential Tenancy Branch information, arrangements will be made to enable cheques or documentation to be picked up at the respective local ministry, local agency or Service BC office.

Information about where to pick up B.C.-government-issued assistance cheques, where and how to make a payment, getting B.C.-government-issued ID, licences and certificates, and how to apply for a B.C. student loan during a Canada Post labour disruption can be found at this Government of B.C. website.

Questions about payments and critical documents can be directed to the ministry/agency responsible:

* Ministry of Advanced Education, StudentAidBC website.

* Ministry of Children and Family Development: 1 877 387-7027

* Ministry of Finance, Revenue Solutions Branch for Medical Services Plan payments website or 1 877 405-4909

* Ministry of Finance for information about taxes and tax credits website

* ICBC: 1 800 663-3051

* Ministry of Justice, Family Maintenance and Enforcement Program: 604 660-2528

* Ministry of Justice, Victim Impact Statement forms online 

* Public Guardian and Trustee website or 604 660-4444

* Residential Tenancy Branch: 1 800 663-7867

* Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation website or 1 866 866-0800

* Vital Statistics: 1 888 876-1633

* WorkSafeBC website or 1 888 967-5377

BC Mail Plus, which provides mail distribution services for provincial ministries, the broader public sector and publicly-funded agencies, is working to ensure critical mail in the form of parcels, small packets and letter mail that must be delivered within a specific timeframe will be distributed via non-affected courier companies.

BC Mail Plus will hold all non-critical mail until Canada Post resumes normal service. Mail will be deposited to Canada Post in the order it was received.

Internal mail between government offices or broader public sector offices serviced by BC Mail Plus are not affected by a Canada Post labour disruption.