Canada Post strike update: Shipping companies pause courier services [Video]

Purolator and UPS have paused shipments from some courier companies as they try to work through a deluge of deliveries brought on by the Canada Post strike, creating even bigger backlogs at the height of the holiday shipping season.

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“The Purolator network is currently experiencing service disruptions due to severe weather and a significant increase in volume,” the company said in an email.

It froze service for some partners this week, citing the need to ensure employee safety and “prioritize critical shipments.”

Alternative couriers such as eShipper and ShipTime act as middlemen between smaller e-commerce companies and large carriers including Purolator and UPS. The couriers bundle packages sent by small businesses to secure lower rates than the mom-and-pop shops could get through individual orders with the big players.

Now, eShipper is among the outfits temporarily …