**Canada Post Workers Begin Nationwide Strike Amid Reforms** Canadians are facing a nationwide strike by Canada Post workers, marking the second such disruption in less than a year. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) announced the strike on Thursday, shortly after the federal government revealed significant reforms to the postal service. Picket lines were established at various Canada Post locations on Friday morning. The strike means that mail and parcels will not be processed or delivered during this period. Some post offices will also be closed. Canada Post has suspended service guarantees for items already in transit and will not accept new mail until the strike concludes. In a statement, Canada Post assured that “all mail and parcels in the postal network will be secured and delivered as quickly as possible once operations resume.” The government has advised individuals applying for passports to use alternative couriers or visit Service Canada Centres or passport offices. They stated, “In preparation for a possible labour disruption, we’ll deliver your passport through another courier,” adding that some delays may occur. Regarding benefit cheques, both Canada Post and CUPW confirmed that they will continue to deliver socio-economic cheques during the strike for eligible government organizations. This agreement ensures that financial assistance reaches seniors and other Canadians who depend on it. Many banks are reminding customers that they can access statements and pay bills online. They have also encouraged those needing new debit or credit cards to visit a branch. The legality of the strike has been confirmed, despite its sudden announcement. Rafael Gomez, director of the Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources at the University of Toronto, explained, “They’re in a legal position to strike from the standpoint that a contract ended and CUPW has done everything that is legally required in order to get into a strike position.” The previous strike, which occurred just before Christmas, ended with workers returning to their jobs without a new contract. The government had commissioned a report on the future of Canada Post, which influenced the recent reforms. Gomez noted, “When you leave a file like this hanging, stuff like this kind of hits you in the face as if it’s out of nowhere, but it’s not. It’s been building.” The government’s announcement included plans to transition four million addresses to a community mailbox system over the next nine years, relax delivery standards, and lift a moratorium on closing rural post offices. Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound described Canada Post as “effectively insolvent” and facing an “existential crisis.” CUPW national president Jan Simpson expressed outrage at the government’s announcement, calling it “slapdash” and “an insult to the public and to postal workers.” She stated, “In response to the Government’s attack on our postal service and workers, effective immediately, all CUPW members at Canada Post are on a nation-wide strike.” Canada Post responded by expressing disappointment over the union's decision to escalate strike actions, stating that it would further worsen the corporation’s financial situation. The federal government has the option to intervene and potentially force workers back to their jobs. Gomez noted that invoking Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code could end the strike, but past experiences have shown that such actions may not be effective. He suggested that traditional bargaining should be the preferred approach to resolve the situation. As the strike unfolds, Canadians are left wondering how it will affect their mail services and what the future holds for Canada Post amid these significant changes.