As the Canada Post strike continues, the province is working to ensure Manitobans receive their mail. Provincial plans As of Oct. 3, critical mail is being directed to distribution centres to serve Manitoba residents. Critical mail includes cheques, court orders, educational materials, medical supplies and resources required to maintain health-care services and other prioritized items. Manitobans can collect their mail at various locations throughout the province. Proper identification, such as one piece of photo ID or two pieces of non-photo ID with a current address, will be required to pick up mail. If you are unsure which office serves your community, refer to this webpage. Those who receive electronic payments and benefits are not affected. Jake Epp Library For some local businesses, the strike is leaving a significant impact. Aubrey Walker, library director of the Jake Epp Library (JEL), says one of their services will have to be put on hold. “I think that Canada Post probably offers more services than people realize,” Walker explains. The Interlibrary Loan program helps patrons find books that aren’t available at the JEL but are available in Manitoba. The Interlibrary Loan program works together with Canada Post to deliver books from one library to another. “Canada Post does a wonderful thing where they offer us a heavily discounted rate on our Interlibrary Loan books because shipping books to and from other libraries is not cheap.” She notes that since Canada Post offers that discount, the program will have to pause entirely. Manitoba Public Insurance Tara Seel, Media and Public Relations Lead at MPI, says customers won’t receive their physical annual statements for their driver’s license during the strike, but are still responsible for making those payments. “You can make a payment online, you can go on the phone, you can do it in person at an Autopac broker or at an MPI service centre location,” Seel explains. To check the status of a delayed claim or cheque, customers should contact the appropriate MPI representative (e.g., case owner for injury claims) if a check hasn’t arrived. MPI is making new cheques (e.g., injury claims, damage claims, refunds, electric vehicle rebates) available for pickup, beginning Oct 3. Seel notes if you are expecting a driver’s license or identification card, those will not be mailed out until after the strike is resolved. If you have any temporary documents that are expiring, go to an MPI location or broker to renew. All information is available on their website. Additionally, the MPI Contact Centre can be reached at 1-800-665-2410. Manitoba Hydro Similar to MPI, physical bills and statements will not be mailed. To avoid delays and make payments on time, Manitoba Hydro encourages customers to sign up for an online account. Customers with an online account can continue to receive paper bills if they wish. For those who do not choose to set up an online account, Manitoba Hydro offers a self-service phone line at 1-888-624-9376. Customers will need their 14-digit account number to access their details. Next steps The province is encouraging all Manitobans to stay informed and plan ahead during the postal disruption. For the latest updates on mail services, residents can visit the Canada Post website or contact relevant agencies directly. Written with files from Laura Kathleen Turner