On behalf of the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce, I am writing to urge you to immediately intervene and do everything necessary to end the strike that has now shut down operations at Canada Post for more than two weeks.

Last year, Canada Post delivered almost six and a half billion pieces of mail, parcels, and messages, to more than 17 million addresses across the country, and as a result, this work stoppage has an impact on millions of Canadians and businesses who rely on the postal service every day.

This is yet another blow to our supply chains, with a disproportionate impact on entrepreneurs and small businesses engaged in e-commerce, many of whom are counting on doing a considerable amount of business during the holiday season.

Families in Niagara have faced a high cost of living that has only been exacerbated by the numerous supply chain disruptions across Canada in recent years due to wildfires, floods, blockades, and the COVID-19 pandemic. There were strikes last year across the ports in British Columbia and the St. Lawrence Seaway, and as you know all too well, labour disputes over the past few months that paralyzed Canada’s rail network and shut down our largest East and West coast ports. Added to the lack of predictability resulting from disputes with Canada’s border agents, as well as Air Canada’s cargo network, there has simply been no predictable movement of goods or stability in prices.

We have appreciated the government’s interventions in previous labour disputes that have restored vital economic services with a view to a just and fair settlement. We are respectfully asking that you put the families and businesses in our community first by intervening once again.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.