There's no mail coming in or out of northern Labrador. There's fear Christmas will be cancelled
Residents eager for strike resolution in light of holiday season
The MHA representing northern Labrador is calling on the federal government to help facilitate negotiations between Canada Post and its workers, saying Christmas gifts and other key goods are at risk of not making it into the region for the holidays.
Lela Evans, the PC MHA for Torngat Mountains, told CBC News Wednesday that many packages bound for the north coast often make it as far as Happy Valley-Goose Bay, but everything from there gets processed by Canada Post. As a result of the continuing strike, mail service to the north coast has come to a halt.
"One of the things I'm getting calls about is Pampers diapers" Evans said. "The cost is so high in northern Labrador that a lot of people find it cheaper to order them online through, say Costco."
And it's not just household items. Evans said food and other goods aren't moving, either. Evans later told CBC News she'd heard from residents in her district who said federal support checks, which usually come by mail, haven't been received either.
She's also heard specific concerns from residents ahead of the Christmas season.
"People are really, really worried about whether or not Santa's actually going to be able to make it to the north coast," she said.
Some 55,000 striking postal workers have been on the picket line since Nov. 14 calling for higher pay, better medical benefits, changes to policy for temporary workers and a desire to extend deliveries to weekends.
Canada Post presented the Canadian Union of Postal Workers with a framework document to reach a negotiated agreement. On Wednesday, federal Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos told reporters the two groups are very far apart.
Barry Andersen, the angajukKâk of Makkovik, voiced concerns over essentials that haven't been able to arrive in his community.
"There's essentials that people need. People order in bulk Pampers, some medical supplies and that sort of thing. It's just not happening anymore," Andersen said.
"I can't express enough the importance of this service, to have that service restored sometime this week. Because if not, it could be a very slim Christmas morning for a lot of people."
Evans said the continued strike means complex issues continue to surface, especially in rural parts of Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada. She said she's been trying to search for alterative methods of delivery, and is encouraging Duclos to be involved in negotiations.
"He has the ability to influence the negotiations. And I think that what we should ask for is to make sure the negotiations between the union and Canada Post continue," she said.
"If they're derailed, we may not get packages and essential goods in northern Labrador until February. And I'm not sure exactly what kind of strain that's going to put on people."
Evans also wants to see Premier Andrew Furey and other provincial political colleagues put pressure on the corporation and the union to find a solution.
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With files from Mark Quinn
