Canada Post rotating strikes in Ontario end as hearings on restructuring begin in Ottawa

Rotating strikes by Canada Post workers in Ontario have come to a halt — at least for now. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) confirmed that, as of October 23, strike activity continues only in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Fort St. John, British Columbia.

In Quebec, outside the Montreal area, postal employees are continuing limited job action by refusing to process or deliver unaddressed flyers, also known as neighbourhood mail. Earlier strikes in Wingham and Belleville, Ontario, have ended. CUPW shifted from a full nationwide strike to rotating walkouts on October 11.

Canada Post said deliveries and pickups are suspended in affected locations but will resume quickly once operations return to normal.

A House of Commons committee begins its first public hearing Thursday afternoon on the future of the postal service. The Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO) is reviewing proposed restructuring measures to address Canada Post’s ongoing financial losses, which total more than $5 billion since 2018.

Federal Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound has proposed phasing out daily door-to-door delivery and expanding community mailboxes as part of a cost-saving plan. Canada Post reportedly loses around $10 million per day, partly due to declining letter-mail volumes.

CUPW national president Jan Simpson said the union will oppose the proposed service changes, arguing that such decisions should not be made without public consultation or while contract negotiations remain unresolved.

“The government cannot be permitted to make such drastic decisions when there has been next to no public consultation and bargaining is unfinished,” Simpson said.

Among those scheduled to testify at the hearing are Minister Lightbound, Arianne Reza, deputy minister of public services and procurement, and business professors Ian Lee of Carleton University and Marvin Ryder of McMaster University.

The session is set to begin at 3:30 p.m. and will be streamed live on ParlVu, the House of Commons webcast platform.