Lev Zohar says he keeps checking his mailbox for important travel papers but hasn't received mail in weeks. (Photo: CHAT News Today)

By Eli J. Ridder

‘Quit holding my mail hostage’: Canada Post service disappears for some Medicine Hat residents

Feb 25, 2025 | 8:38 AM

Rick Cameron hasn’t received mail for three weeks.

The Medicine Hat resident is expecting tax forms and important health care insurance papers following visits to the doctor and dentist.

There was no warning that mail would stop getting delivered and attempts to pick it up didn’t work, Cameron told CHAT News on Monday.

“Quit holding my mail hostage,” Cameron said of Canada Post.

He’s not alone.

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Lev Zohar was expecting important insurance papers for an upcoming trip to Mexico, and yet, his Canada Post mailbox remains empty.

“There’s no mail being delivered,” said Zohar.

While the Sixth Street S.E. resident said he’s able to access his required forms online, others are far more reliant on the national mail service.

Laura Gould said she needs physical documents for her non-profit organization.

“The stuff we’re all waiting for can’t be done on digital,” she said in a recent interview.

“I have to have a paper trail.”

All three tried submitting complaints to Canada Post online or by phone with mixed results. For several residents who spoke to CHAT News, visiting local post offices provided more insight.

People working at Canada Post sites across the city have told residents that several routes haven’t been operating.

“The clerk told me that they haven’t been delivering mail for the past three weeks,” Zohar said.

Cameron was told postal workers were behind. Gould was told they don’t have enough employees.

Canada Post acknowledged it’s “facing challenges in Medicine Hat due to the staffing levels” and that work was underway to hire additional staff to fill the vacancies.

However, the postal agency, without giving specifics, said the problem isn’t widespread.

“After checking with our local operations, we can confirm that there is no major backlog of mail in Medicine Hat,” Canada Post said in a statement.

The Crown corporation said that it remains committed to Medicine Hat residents.

“Our local operations teams understand the importance of the service we provide and go to great lengths to work on contingency plans when unexpected issues happen,” the statement added.

Severe weather, too, is to blame.

“It is also important to note the inclement weather and extreme cold have affected our operations in the province.”

Canada Post said that local operational leaders and employees are empowered to decide whether to temporarily stop deliveries.

It didn’t confirm in its reply if that was why some residents weren’t receiving mail.

Canada Post workers went on strike on Nov. 15 and lasted until it was suspended on Dec. 17 — leaving Canadians without delivery during that time.

Cameron said that’s too many delays for an agency funded by taxpayers.

“A service is provided to Canadians, and you don’t get it. Last time it was six weeks for a strike, and then after the strike ended, it was another two weeks before we got mail,” he said.

“So, two months without mail again.”

Cameron, who lives in an apartment building in the Southwest Hill area, has posted a note suggesting his neighbours call Canada Post’s customer service line if they aren’t receiving mail.

“If anyone else is concerned, they can give that number a call. I know a few people in the building have,” he said.

Residents who live in the same area of the city as Cameron say their mailboxes are empty, too. Many others, however, say mail service hasn’t been interrupted since the 2024 strike.

Garrie Larson, who works for Western Diesel Wholesale, said the business received mail for about a week before it stopped arriving for two weeks.

Larson said she was told by Canada Post she was having issues with some drivers not liking the route assigned to them. CHAT News was unable to independently verify the claim.

Local Canada Post representatives wouldn’t comment and the statement from Canada Post didn’t include specifics, leaving it unclear how many people are not receiving mail in the city.

For some residents that continue to check an empty mailbox, uncertainty remains.

“I know there’s bigger problems in the world, but come on now,” Zohar said.

“It’s nigh on three weeks I haven’t had mail and I am expecting things.”

The union representing Canada Post workers did not respond to a request for comment by Monday evening.

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