Provinces, territories make backup plans for essential services during Canada Post strike [Video]

Nearly a week after Canada Post workers went on strike nationwide, federal, provincial and territorial governments say Canadians will still be able to receive essential government mail and financial support cheques through other means.

The strike has brought mail delivery across the country to a halt. Only certain government cheques are still being mailed out.

An agreement between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) allows some unionized employees to deliver federal support payments during the labour dispute. Those payments include the Canada Child Benefit, Old Age Security and the Canada Pension Plan.

Service Canada says most of the people who receive these federal financial assistance payments — between 94 and 98 per cent — get the funds through direct deposit.

The federal government saysemployment insurance (EI) clients can contact Service Canada if they are in “dire need.” Service Canada says it can make arrangements for cheques to be delivered to their homes or …