Disability advocate, PC MLA worry about how people will get benefit cheques during mail strike
Social Development Minister Cindy Miles says she’s happy to re-open discussion
Amid the ongoing Canada Post strike, a New Brunswick disability advocate is concerned about those who rely on mailed disability benefits.
"An issue that's often forgotten in this type of event is our vulnerable populations," said Haley Flaro, executive director of Ability New Brunswick.
"There's still a significant number of New Brunswickers that don't have internet access, can't make online payments or apply to programs online.
"It's impacting their ability to apply to programs. They have … disability benefits in the mail, and they don't know where they are."
Because of inflationary costs and growing poverty, Flaro said one thing that a lot of people have been cutting out is cell phones, which makes it difficult for some people to access their benefits.
She said her organization has been hit with significant bills just trying to get people the information they need through Purolator.
"People haven't stopped being diagnosed or experiencing hardships, you know, during this strike, and I think that's really forgotten," said Flaro.
Offer refused, union says
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers Atlantic Region said they have not forgotten about people who need cheques delivered.
A letter signed by Jeff Callaghan, CUPW Atlantic director, said the union offered to continue delivery of pension and social assistance cheques during the strike, but New Brunswick was one of several provinces to refuse.
Margaret Johnson, PC MLA and social development critic, said this came as a shock to her.
PC
MLA and social development critic Margaret Johnson says she was
'dismayed' to hear that the province had advised people that, if they
didn’t have direct deposit set up, they would need to make arrangements
to collect their cheques at the regional office. (Radio-Canada)
During Thursday's question period in the legislature, she said was "dismayed" to hear that the Department of Social Development had advised people that, if they didn't have direct deposit set up, they would need to make arrangements to collect their cheques at the regional office.
She said that during a time of financial insecurity, it wasn't fair to ask someone from Juniper, for example, to go to Woodstock — about a 70-kilometre drive — to pick up their cheque.
Social Development Minister Cindy Miles responded, saying accommodation would be made to get cheques in the hands of those who needed them.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Johnson said she believes Miles recognizes the decision was an error in judgment.
"[I] sincerely believe that she's going to get back to us with some solutions," Johnson said.
"The next cheque is not due until the first week of December. However, Christmas is coming and that's a hard enough season. … You're going to be talking about relying on friends that have cars … it really just once again establishes that stigma of requiring help and needing a leg up.
"We want to make sure that we maintain the dignity of our people, and we can't ask them to have to be begging all the time for assistance."
Minister
of Social Development Cindy Miles says if someone can’t pick up their
cheque, staff from the regional office will go to them. (Radio-Canada)
Miles told reporters she didn't have an explanation for why the province may have denied the union's offer to deliver the cheques.
But she said staff in the regional social development offices have been informed that if someone can't pick up their cheque, staff will go to meet them.
She also said she's willing and "more than happy" to go back and have another conversation with department officials to find the best approach forward.
"We want to meet folks where they're at all the time," she said.
Flaro wants to see something put in place to ensure basic access to mail for people, especially in New Brunswick, where she said there is a real "access to internet and technology gap."
"I had a colleague in Ontario who said to me, 'Well, everyone has internet access,'" Flaro said.
"And I went, 'Really, have you been throughout the province of New Brunswick?'" There are some areas where even if people can afford it, they can't get it, she said.
Ability New Brunswick will continue to help people who need it, she said, but it's because they don't have a choice.
"We're not going to sit here and watch people go through hardship," she said. "But I really don't think that there's an economic and social policy lens put on these issues."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Shift
David Amos
I am enjoying this nonsense
Gregory Wulf
Way too risky to send important paper through the mail.
Walter Vrbetic
Point of the matter...
'A letter signed by Jeff Callaghan, CUPW Atlantic director, said the union offered to continue delivery of pension and social assistance cheques during the strike, but New Brunswick was one of several provinces to refuse.'
Anne Wallenberg
Reply to Walter Vrbetic
The just re-elected PC government in Nova Scotia has made the same decision, much to the frustration of the striking NS postal workers who offered to deliver these cheques.
Anne Wallenberg
Reply to Anne Wallenberg
https://globalnews.ca/video/10887726/striking-canada-post-workers-frustrated-with-nova-scotia-provincial-government-decision
Don Corey
Reply to Anne Wallenberg
Who cares. Note that this story is specific to NB. Stay relevant.
Danny Sterns
Reply to Walter Vrbetic
Did the postal workers want full pay to deliver the cheques?
Helen Cochrane
I hope they get the cheques to everyone as soon as possible.
Albalita Star
The only people who get cheques from the government rather than direct deposit need to be investigated....
Walter Vrbetic
Reply to Albalita Star
Why??
SarahRose Werner
Say that you live in Juniper, where there are no banks, and you don't have Internet access. If you receive a cheque, you're probably depositing it via ATM, then withdrawing cash from the same ATM to go back your bills. So why can't you arrange for the cheque to be directly deposited? You can still go to the same ATM to check your balance and get your cash.
As a low-income senior, I'm certainly glad I arranged for direct deposit for my CPP and OAS/GIS.
Albalita Star
Reply to SarahRose Werner
I get furious when I try to go to the ATM to get a few bucks...and someone is running their business thru the ATM...really?
Ted DiBlase
Reply to SarahRose Werner
Smart
Sam Carson
Reply to Albalita Star
Do you pay a fee to use ATM's? I haven't used one in a few years now. I get cash out from in the credit union.
Ralph Skavinsky
Surely most people would willingly drive a friend, neighbour or family member to pickup their cheque.
Albalita Star
Reply to Ralph Skavinsky
To Ottawa?...
David Webb
Who in this day and age does not have a bank account? There are plenty of free ones such as Simplii, and Tangerine. There is no excuse to not have an account and direct deposit. ATM's are widely available if you need the cash in hand. Also it is well past time for once per week delivery of mail to residential locations.
MR Cain
Reply to David Webb
Everybody likes to get mail; a holiday card or a physical cheque, always gets a smile. Speeding ticket not so much.
Alex Stevens
Why would any province refuse an offer for the continued delivery of cheques for the most vulnerable? Whoever made that decision should find employment elsewhere.
David Webb
Reply to Alex Stevens
I would suggest that it is not a significant issue. Just politicians of any stripe trying to score political points.
Fred Dee
What are they being paid? Benefits etc???? For minimal training and no education should not be making big bucks
MR Cain
Reply to Fred Dee
I believe they are required to have graduated with grade 12. No, most are not making big bucks; the cost to have a roof over the head has hit everyone hard.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to Fred Dee
Disability benefits in New Brunswick are pretty minimal. They're paid to people who are unable to work due to physical and/or mental disabilities so that these people have at least this minimal amount to live on. No one is making "big bucks" on disability benefits.
Rosco holt
Maybe news outlets should report on the postal workers work conditions? It is said many postal workers have to use soup kitchens to make ends meat.
But Canadian news outlet won't because they are bias against workers. Poor Tim can't get his Christmas package, Nana won't get her cards. Not many receive checks by the mail any more.
MR Cain
Reply to Rosco holt
Every low wage earners are finding it difficult to make ends meet. A bit disingenuous to claim news outlets are bias against workers. They report on what is provided to them. As well, many seniors prefer that cheque in the mail, whether they have internet or not.
Rosco holt
Reply to MR Cain
This story has more reporting about the impact on citizen than the plight of workers. Look at other labor conflicts it similar. How the conflict impacts the economy? Business owner whine how it negatively impacts them, politicians pressuring government to resolve the issue. Not many reports on what the employees live and why they take job action. Most news outlet paint workers/ labor movement in a bad light that is why I said they are bias just like most governments are bias.
MR Cain
Reply to Rosco holt
One of the fundamentals in collective bargaining is not to negotiate in public. Union leadership is the voice of the membership. If the news media reported on the sad state of affairs of the average postal worker, then they would be considered biased. There are those who have been with the postal service a number of years, have seniority and/or attained supervisory status. I suspect if the public got wind of their pay and benefits, any sympathy for these workers would drop.
MR Cain
Reply to Rosco holt
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/canada-post-strike-benefits-cut-1.7395774
Anne Wallenberg
Reply to Rosco holt
Yes, I see that too. Most of the information re issues relevant to this postal strike - centrally that postal workers don't want gig work conditions - I have from a Tyee article.
https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2024/11/27/Canada-Post-Strike-Matters-All-Workers/
Don Corey
Reply to Rosco holt
I found during my working life that the best way to make ends meet was to work, 5 or 6 days a week, 12 months a year. Postal workers, when pay and benefits are considered, are much better off than the average Canadian.
The postal union is not concerned in the least for those negatively impacted by the strike.
It's time for the feds to do what they should have done a week ago.
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