Local municipalities are preparing to deal with the looming threat of a postal disruption.
Canada Post and the postal workers union are continuing negotiations this month after a conciliation period came to an end in early June.
The earliest a labour disruption could occur – either a strike or a lockout – is July 2.
Union directors were in St. Albert last week taking a strike vote, the results of which are expected to be released this coming weekend if needed.
The Town of Morinville has a contingency plan, such as hand delivering some mail like utility bills and couriering other mail if needed.
Felicity Bergman, communications co-ordinator for Morinville, said reminders would be advertised about paying bills prior to the due date.
"Utility bills can be paid at any bank, in-person at town hall, through the after-hours drop box or through the Town of Morinville's online e-services," she said in an email.
Sturgeon County also has plans in place to advertise to remind residents that they can use online banking to pay their utility bills, said Sheila Macaulay.
The City of St. Albert is preparing for a mail service disruption by mailing out utility bills two days earlier than usual.
The next billing date will be July 27, said Ashleigh Campbell, a utility and accounts receivable controller with the city. If there is a disruption and it is still going, other delivery methods will be investigated.
Ratepayers can sign up to get bills emailed and can pay their bills via online banking, in person at St. Albert Place or through their banks, Campbell said.
Property tax payments are due at the end of June, so payments should have been made prior to any postal service problems, she said.
Gazette plans
The St. Albert Gazette will still be available in the event of a mail disruption.
St. Albert, Morinville and Cardiff deliveries will not be impacted, as those areas receive door to door delivery by the Gazette's carriers.
However, about 4,300 copies of the weekly Wednesday edition are sent through Canada Post to cover parts of Sturgeon County. In the event of a disruption, newspaper boxes will be placed at strategic locations. The map will be available in ads and on the Gazette website.
"It is our top priority to make sure our readers have access to their paper and our circulation team is working hard to make sure that happens," said Evan Jamison, plant manager.
Jamison said there are also a small number of national subscribers who won't receive their paper if there is a postal service interruption. He noted that an e-edition of the Gazette is available on the paper's website.
