B.C. gov’t promises assistance cheques amid potential postal strike

The B.C. government says disability and income assistance payments will continue despite the possibility of a Canada Post workers strike this week.

Canada Post received a strike notice Monday from the union representing more than 55,000 postal workers, with operations poised to shut down by the end of the week — for the second time in six months.

The union informed management that employees plan to hit the picket line starting Friday morning at midnight, the Crown corporation said.

A work stoppage would affect millions of residents and businesses who typically receive more than two billion letters and roughly 300 million parcels a year via the service.

The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction says its working to ensure payments are distributed in a timely manner in preparation for the May 2025 cheque issue.

The province says it will incorporate lessons learned during the previous Canada Post strike last November to December.

“Despite the mail service disruptions during the 2024 strike, the ministry distributed 98 per cent of monthly payments, aligning with normal distribution rates,” the ministry said in a release Tuesday.

The province says 88 per cent of income and disability assistance recipients get their cheques as a direct deposit.

For those who don’t, it says all monthly cheques that are to be mailed will instead be sent to ministry offices for distribution. If unable to pick up, recipients can provide a written letter with their signature to allow someone else to make the pick up.

“We want vulnerable people to be supported if there’s a Canada Post service disruption, so we’re taking extra steps to ensure people receive their disability and income assistance cheques,” said Minister Sheila Malcolmson in a statement to 1130 NewsRadio.

“Anyone wishing to sign up for direct deposit or concerned about not receiving their cheque is encouraged to contact my ministry at 1-866-866-0800 for help.”

—With files from The Canadian Press