Earlier this year, the ongoing contract tensions between Canada Post and unionized employees sent a ripple through North American supply chains. Businesses on both sides of the border were left in limbo, uncertain if parcels would arrive and scrambling to find reliable delivery alternatives.
If your company ships to Canadian customers or is planning to expand into the market, you might be asking “Is Canada Post still on strike?” In this blog post, we’re breaking down where things stand, how we got here, and what steps you can take to protect your shipping strategy going forward.
A Quick Recap: What Happened with the Canada Post Strike?
In late 2024, negotiations between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) stalled over ongoing issues including wage increases, staffing shortages, and the push to modernize the delivery model.
On November 15, 2024, the CUPW launched a full nationwide strike, halting mail and parcel delivery across the country. Businesses from Halifax and Montreal to Toronto and Vancouver were hit hard, especially during the busy holiday shipping season, as delays and service interruptions quickly piled up.
Here’s a quick look at how it all unfolded:
Major Events Timeline
- November 15, 2024: CUPW declares an official nationwide strike. All Canada Post mail and parcel delivery halts.
- November 22, 2024: USPS suspends acceptance of mail and packages destined for Canada, citing an inability to process or deliver international shipments.
- December 4, 2024: Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon appoints a special mediator to help resolve the dispute. The case is referred to the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) for further review.
- January 3, 2025: Canada Post announces the official end of strike activity and begins clearing parcel backlogs.
- January 6, 2025: USPS resumes acceptance of mail and packages to Canada.
- January 15, 2025: Canada Post restores on-time service guarantees for domestic parcel delivery; some delays continue for Transaction Mail and Neighbourhood Mail.
- February–March 2025: The Industrial Inquiry Commission (IIC), led by Commissioner William Kaplan, holds hearings to evaluate the dispute.
During the strike, parcel delivery in Canada slowed dramatically. Businesses that normally rely on Canada Post scrambled to find workarounds, such as using final-mile carriers for the entire delivery processes. Many of those final-mile carriers, in turn, struggled to keep up with the surge in volume.
How the Strike Affected U.S. Shippers
The full, prolonged shutdown at Canada Post had a clear and measurable effect on U.S. companies shipping across the border. As CUPW spokespersons and government officials trading blame over key issues, here’s how many businesses experienced the fallout:
- Delivery delays. Parcels were held in limbo due to processing backlogs, with inconsistent updates from tracking systems. Many shipments moved slower than usual, particularly during peak periods.
- Increased customer support volume. Many businesses that ship regularly to Canada had to spend more time fielding customer inquiries and managing expectations about delivery timelines.
- Order adjustments. To avoid uncertainty, some companies paused Canadian shipments or shifted volume to other final-mile carriers, even when those alternatives were more expensive or had their own limitations.
While these disruptions were Canada-wide, major hubs including Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver suffered the most from mail delivery and parcel processing delays and backlogs. And for businesses without a flexible logistics plan, even short-term interruptions created real stress on day-to-day operations.
Is Canada Post Still on Strike in 2025?
As of April 2025, Canada Post is not on strike, and all of its core services have resumed. Cross-border shipping from the United States to Canada is active again, helping businesses restore delivery timelines and customer confidence.
But while things are back on track for now, the labor situation isn’t fully resolved. Businesses that ship to Canada still need to be prepared for potential changes.
Here’s the latest:
- The Industrial Inquiry Commission (IIC) has wrapped its hearings, and a final report is due from Commissioner Kaplan by May 15.
- Until May 22, Canada Post and CUPW are bound by current agreements, so no strike or lockout can legally occur before then.
- What happens after that date depends on the outcome of the IIC’s recommendations and how both parties respond.
As negotiations continue, Canada Post has said it remains focused on keeping businesses informed and limiting the risk of further disruption. For now, mail delivery and pickup are active, and ePost Global continues to support clients shipping into and throughout Canada. But if your current strategy depends entirely on Canada Post, this is the time to step back, evaluate your setup, and put a more flexible plan in place just in case things shift again.
How to Optimize Your Shipping to Canada
To keep your shipments moving no matter what’s happening behind the scenes, consider a few key ways to build more flexibility into your Canadian shipping strategy:
- Mix up your carrier network. As a crown corporation—a business directly owned by the Canadian federal government—Canada Post plays a major role in parcel delivery to Canada. It shouldn’t be your only carrier, however. Working with a logistics partner that connects to multiple private and final-mile carriers gives you alternatives when things get unpredictable.
- Get customs-ready. Most border delays are preventable. Make sure your commercial invoices, HS codes, tax declarations, and declared values are accurate. Even a small paperwork error can delay an entire shipment.
- Give your customers visibility. Real-time tracking keeps people in the loop and reduces anxiety about delivery timing. Even if things slow down, transparency builds trust.
- Communicate early and often. If there’s any risk of delivery delays due to service issues, say so up front. Customers appreciate honesty, and it helps protect your reputation.
How ePost Global Helps You Stay Ahead
At ePost Global, we work with growing brands and established retailers who can’t afford to wait and see what happens with Canada Post. Our logistics model is built for reliability, even during disruption.
Here’s how we support your success:
Carrier Flexibility
We don’t rely on a single delivery system. If Canada Post service is delayed or impacted by striking workers, we can shift your volume to trusted private carriers, helping you avoid bottlenecks while keeping shipment delivery moving.
Smart Routing
We optimize every shipment based on cost, speed, and performance. That means leveraging our network to bypass congested areas and reduce delays even during peak season or a work stoppage.
Customs Expertise
Tariffs, product classifications, and clearance rules can slow down delivery if not handled correctly. Our team stays on top of changes, whether it’s GST adjustments or federal regulation changes.
End-to-End Visibility
From origin to final-mile delivery, you’ll know exactly where your parcels are. Our platform offers full tracking, reporting, and support, so your team spends less time chasing answers and more time serving customers.
Partnership Built for Contingency
Our job isn’t just shipping; it’s also helping you plan. We monitor service disruptions, government actions, and media updates from Canada’s Global News and Canadian Press networks and official government sources. If something changes, we’re already working on a solution.
Prepare Now, Not Later
A postal service is critical infrastructure, but recent events have shown how fragile that infrastructure can be. As a crown corporation, Canada Post is shaped not only by business needs but also by politics, public perception, and union negotiations. That can leave U.S. shippers stuck in the middle when mail service slows or stops altogether.
Don’t wait for the next postal strike to rethink your shipping. At ePost Global we’ll help you create a delivery plan that’s stable, scalable, and built for long-term growth, no matter what happens.
Let’s talk about your Canadian shipping strategy.
