B.C. Ombudsperson: Social Assistance Cheque Delivery Reasonable

B.C. Report: Assistance Cheques Reached People During Postal Strike

British Columbia’s ombudsperson has concluded that the province acted reasonably in getting social assistance cheques out during the 2024 Canada Post strike, even though planning before the strike was limited and delivery wasn’t perfect. 

The report, titled “Stamp of Approval: Delivering income and assistance cheques during a postal strike,” was released this week and examined how the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction handled payments when postal workers walked off the job last year. 

Minor Delays, But Most Cheques Still Delivered Timely

The investigation found that while cheque delivery slowed somewhat during the work stoppage, the delays were modest. On average, cheques were cashed about seven days after being issued during the strike months, compared with just over four days before and after the strike meaning most recipients still received their funds before key bills like rent were due.

Ombudsperson Jay Chalke noted that 99 per cent of the cheques were delivered by the end of each strike month, a result considered reasonable given the disruptions caused by the strike. 

Planning and Communication Gaps Identified

Although the overall response was judged reasonable, the report pointed out that the ministry had limited pre-strike planning and early public communication was delayed. The strike began shortly after notice was issued, and internal preparations ramped up quickly, but a formal public update didn’t come until weeks later. 

Despite that gap, the ministry managed to adjust operations quickly once the strike was underway, working to ensure payments continued to reach recipients. 

Looking Ahead: Changes for Future Strikes

Officials told the ombudsperson that lessons learned from the 2024 strike have already influenced planning for later disruptions, including the more recent postal strike in 2025. That includes improved communication efforts and encouragement for people to enroll in direct deposit to reduce reliance on mailed cheques in future.

Ombudsperson Chalke emphasized that while any delay in critical payments can affect vulnerable residents, the province’s actions ultimately minimized harm and ensured that assistance reached those who needed it despite challenging circumstances.

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