Background

We are working to ensure that services will continue to be delivered effectively during a national strike.

All ServiceOntario centres and online services are open for business. However:

  • products that depend on mail delivery by Canada Post will be delayed.
  • we will not be able to provide our standard service guarantees, due to the strike
This page will be updated as information becomes available.

Accessible Parking Permit

ServiceOntario will continue to process applications for accessible parking permits and related transactions during the strike.

Permits, letters and renewal notice reminders will be mailed out when Canada Post services have resumed.

Customers with an expiring permit or expired interim permit, who are waiting for their permit to arrive in the mail, may be eligible for an interim accessible parking permit from a ServiceOntario centre. You can book an appointment online at most ServiceOntario centres up to four weeks in advance of your visit. 

You can continue to submit applications online at get an accessible parking permit or in-person by visiting a ServiceOntario centre.

Assistive Devices Program (ADP)

You can submit a grant application by any of these methods:

  • download an application form online, fill it out, and place it in a sealed envelope. Write “Assistive Devices Program” on the envelope then take the envelope to  select ServiceOntario locations
  • by pre-paid courier (collect courier packages will not be accepted) to:

5700 Yonge Street, 7th Floor
North York, ON
M2M 4K5

by fax: 416-327-8192                  
by email: adp@ontario.ca

Grant payments

If you are due to receive a grant payment and you:

  • are signed up for direct deposit, your grant payment will be made to your bank account on its scheduled date. (Your Electronic Funds Transfer letter will be mailed out when full Canada Post services have resumed).
  • receive your grant payment by cheque, the cheque will be held until full Canada Post services have resumed. 
  • You can sign up for direct deposit by completing the Application for Direct Bank Payment form available on the ADP website and you may fax it to 416-327-8192. Should you have any questions or concerns please call 1-800-267-9458.

Mobility Authorizer reports

Reports will not be available during the strike. Reports will be mailed out when full Canada Post services have resumed.

Insurance letters

We will continue to process your insurance letter requests and either email or fax the letter to you. We will not send letters directly to insurance companies.

How to send us mail

If you have urgent mail, you may send it by pre-paid courier (collect courier packages will not be accepted):

5700 Yonge Street, 7th Floor
North York, ON
M2M 4K5

For questions about the Assistive Device Program, please contact adp@ontario.ca.

Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates

Birth, marriage and death certificates will not be mailed during the Canada Post strike.

Premium online and Emergency certificate requests will continue to be sent by courier. If you have not requested Premium/Emergency service, and your request is urgent, please contact our office at 1-800-461-2156 (outside of Toronto but within North America) or 416-325-8305 (within the Greater Toronto Area or outside of North America), TTY: 416-325-3408.

Proof of urgency may include:

  • documentation of a medical emergency
  • a letter confirming new employment
  • a letter from a consulate or embassy confirming an appointment
  • travel reservations including airline tickets, reservations or travel itinerary
  • a letter confirming an appointment for an immigration hearing
  • a wedding invitation, where the applicant is a party to the marriage
  • other situations subject to review

Cancer Care Ontario

The Canada Post service disruption may affect the delivery of cancer screening letters and fecal immunochemical test (FIT) kits for colorectal screening. Here is what you need to know about cancer screening services during the disruption.

Cancer screening letter delivery

Screening results letters
  • Your primary care provider (doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife) is responsible for telling you about your laboratory screening test results (Pap test, FIT or mammogram). Contact your primary care provider to discuss the details of your screening test result.
  • Ontario Health also sends personalized result letters to individuals. However, you may notice delays in receiving your screening letters.
  • If you do not have a primary care provider and got a FIT kit from Health811, or the Hamilton or North West mobile screening coach, Ontario Health will courier your result to you if it is abnormal. All other mail correspondence may be delayed due to the service disruption.
  • If you have an abnormal breast screening result, you will be contacted by your Ontario Breast Screening Program site to arrange additional tests. You may notice delays in receiving a normal result letter.
Primary care provider notification of results
  • Your primary care provider (doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife) will continue to receive your screening results. Ontario community laboratories and Ontario Breast Screening Program sites are responsible for notifying primary care providers of their patients’ results and will continue to do so throughout the Canada Post service disruption.
Recall letters when it is time to screen
  • You may notice delays in receiving a recall letter. If you have questions about when you are due for screening, please contact your primary care provider (doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife)

ColonCancerCheck FIT kit delivery

How to drop off a completed FIT kit

Do not return your kit by mail. Please drop off your completed FIT kit at a community laboratory collection centre.

To find specimen collection centres:

No access to a specimen collection centre

If you cannot access a specimen collection centre, talk to your primary care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner) to discuss other options or wait until the service disruption ends to do the test.

Laboratory processing times for fecal immunochemical test (FIT) kits during the Canada Post service disruption

Completed FITs will continue to be tested when received by the laboratory. However, a stool (poop) sample breaks down over time, if your sample:

  • is tested between 15 and 30 days after it was collected, the lab may be unable to determine a result and you must redo the test
  • arrives at the lab more than 30 days after it was collected, the sample will not be tested and you must redo the test

You have not received your fecal immunochemical test (FIT) result

Please contact your primary care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner) for your result during the service disruption. If you do not have a primary care provider and got a FIT kit from Health811, or the Hamilton or North West mobile screening coach, Ontario Health will courier your result to you if it is abnormal.

If your result is normal or you need to redo your test, your results will be mailed, but may be delayed, and delivered once postal services resume.

You need to redo your fecal immunochemical test (FIT)

Please book an appointment with your primary care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner) to get a requisition for a new FIT kit.

If you do not have a primary care provider, you may be able to get a FIT kit by calling Health811 at 811 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007). The laboratory will mail your FIT kit once the service disruption ends.

If you live in Hamilton or north western Ontario, FIT kits are also available through your region's mobile screening coach.

Driver and Vehicle Services

Many driver and vehicle products and services may be impacted by the Canada Post strike.

Driver’s Licences/Ontario Photo Cards:

Driver’s licences and Ontario Photo Cards can be renewed online in some instances. If you are able to renew online, you can complete the renewal and keep the receipt provided at the end of the transaction as temporary proof of validity.

If your temporary driver’s licence or Ontario Photo Card are within 7 days of expiry, you must visit a ServiceOntario centre to receive another temporary driver’s licence or temporary Ontario Photo Card free of charge.

If you are unable to renew online, you must visit a ServiceOntario centre.

If you have a commercial driver’s licence or are aged 70 or older and still receive renewal reminder letters, these renewal reminder letters will not be sent during the strike. Please check your licence for the expiry date. As a reminder – licences typically expire on your birthday.

Driver’s licences, Ontario Photo Cards, and courtesy renewal letters for applicable driver products will be mailed out when regular mail service resumes.

Vehicle Plates:

Most personal vehicle plates will automatically renew. However, the courtesy renewal letters for plates that are not in good standing (i.e., have outstanding fines, fees or tolls) will not be sent out during the strike. You can sign up for convenient renewal reminders by email, text message or phone call at Ontario.ca/Reminders  or call ServiceOntario at 1-800-387-3445 (TTY 1-800-268-7095).

If you are required to take action to bring your plates back into good standing, you can renew online or visit a ServiceOntario centre. You can check the status of your licence plate at: Licence plate expiry checker

As a reminder – plates typically expire on your birthday each year.

If you drive a vehicle with plates that are jointly registered, do not auto-renew or require plate stickers, such as heavy commercial vehicles, you will not receive renewal reminder letters during the strike and stickers for vehicles renewed online will be sent out once regular mail service resumes. If you need your products immediately, you must visit a ServiceOntario centre.

Other Driver and Vehicle Products:

  • Used Vehicle Information Packages (UVIP) ordered online will be mailed out when regular mail service resumes. If you previously ordered a UVIP and didn't receive it, you may visit a centre to request a new one. If you need a UVIP immediately, you must visit a ServiceOntario centre.

If you need to visit a ServiceOntario centre you can book an appointment online at most centres up to four weeks in advance of your visit.

Family Responsibility Office

During the Canada Post labour disruption:

  • support payors must continue to make payments to FRO
  • we will not be able to mail cheques to support recipients
  • we will not be able to receive documents or cheques that you send by mail
  • payments made to support recipients by direct bank deposit will continue

You can:

  • sign up for direct bank deposit if you don’t have it. You can email your completed direct bank deposit registration forms to FRO.DirectDeposit@ontario.ca
  • make payments through internet banking, pre-authorized payments, telebanking or employer electronic submission. Payments must continue.
  • drop off a cheque at any Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) branch, addressed to:                                              
    Family Responsibility Office Lockbox Number 2204
    RBC Toronto Wholesale - Lockbox Site  
    4 Prince Andrew Place
    Toronto, Ontario M3C 2H4
  • use FRO Online to receive and send time-sensitive information and documents.

If you have any questions, please call us at 416-326-1817 in the Greater Toronto Area, or toll free at 1-800-267-4330 from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Freedom of Information requests

Ministries will continue to process access requests made under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA).

Requesters may still submit access or correction requests using the online forms available on the Central Forms Repository (CFR) and pay the mandatory $5.00 application fee. For additional information on alternative methods to submit a Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, requesters are encouraged to contact the relevant ministry.

Requesters may also refer to the Directory of Institutions for contact information for provincial and municipal FOI offices in Ontario. 

You may also check the list of ministry FOI Coordinators.

Health Care Connect

Letters associated with the Health Care Connect program may be delayed.

Your registration with Health Care Connect will not be affected with this delay, and you will be contacted by phone when a family health care provider has been found.

If you have any questions about the program while waiting please call 310-2222 and ask to speak with a Care Connector.

Health Card Services

If your health card expires during the strike you:

  • can still receive emergency health care at a hospital or clinic
  • may be able to renew your health card online, or may need to visit a ServiceOntario centre

Make sure to keep your receipt as temporary proof that you are covered by provincial health insurance, as there may be a delay in receiving your new health card. The temporary proof does not expire and can be used in conjunction with your expired health card until your new card can be delivered.

For customers who still receive paper renewal notices (e.g., people under the age of 16, over the age of 70, living in remote locations), notices will not be mailed during the strike.

Please sign up for renewal reminders by email, text message or phone call at Ontario.ca/Reminders or call ServiceOntario at 1-800-387-3445 (TTY 1-800-268-7095).

Healthy Smiles Ontario

During the Canada Post service disruption, Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO) applicants may experience delays with their program applications and communications such as welcome packages and dental cards. To inquire if your application is approved or for assistance, please contact the ServiceOntario INFOline:

If you would like to apply to the program as a new applicant, you can either:

If you’ve already applied and want to find out about your enrolment status, call the ServiceOntario INFOline at 1-844-296-6306 or TTY at 1-800-387-5559.

Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund Benefit Payments

If you receive your Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund (MVACF) Income Replacement Benefit payments by mail, you can contact MVACF to sign up for Direct Bank Deposit to ensure you get your payment on time. Please call 416-250-1422 or Toll Free: 1-800-268-7188

Northern Health Travel Grants (NHTG) 

Submitting grant applications 

You can submit a grant application either by:

  • taking all your original documents in a sealed envelope to select ServiceOntario locations. Write “Ministry of Health, Northern Health Travel Grant” on the envelope
  • or by sending it by courier to:  

Ministry of Health
Claims Services Branch - Sudbury Office
Northern Health Travel Grant
159 Cedar Street, 7th Floor
Sudbury, ON P3E 6A5

Note: Do not send applications by fax or email. Original signatures are required.

Grant payments

If you are due to receive a grant payment by:

  • direct deposit, your grant payment will be made to your bank account on its scheduled date
  • cheque, the cheque will be held until full Canada Post services have resumed

You can sign up for direct deposit by sending a void cheque or a completed bank-issued payroll direct deposit form to nhtg@ontario.ca or fax to 705-675-4015.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call our office at 1-800-262-6524. 

Official Document Services (ODS)

Official Document Services to authenticate a document for use outside of Canada will continue to be provided in-person at 5 locations across Ontario. 

The processing of mailed applications will be delayed until the Canada Post service disruption concludes. 

Requests sent by courier will continue to be processed. Customers must include the return envelope and courier waybill.

OHIP Patient Out-of-Country or Out-of-Province Claims

You can submit an Out of Country or Out of Province Claim Submission form either by email to CSBOttawa@ontario.ca or by courier to the Ottawa claims office:

Ministry of Health
Claims Services Branch
347 Preston Street, 4th floor
Ottawa, ON K1S 3J4

Letters and cheques will be held until postal services resume.

Learn more about OHIP coverage while outside Canada or OHIP coverage outside Ontario.

Ontario Autism Program

During the Canada Post labour disruption:

  • we will not be able to send your cheque by mail
  • we will not receive documents that you send by mail
  • payments made by direct bank deposit will continue

If you do not have direct bank deposit, contact the Central Resource Team or AccessOAP for help setting it up.

Ontario Public Drug Programs

Trillium Drug Program (TDP)

To submit a Trillium Drug Program application, supporting documentation or receipts, you can either:

Seniors Co-Payment Program (SCP)

To submit a Seniors Co-Payment Program application, supporting documentation or receipts, you can either:

Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) program receipts for reimbursement

To submit Ontario Drug Benefit receipts for reimbursement, you can either:

Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) recipient reimbursement cheques

Reimbursement cheques to ODB recipients are being held until full Canada Post delivery services resumes.

If you expect to experience significant hardship because you have not received a reimbursement cheque, or have any other questions about these processes, please call:

Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program

During the Canada Post service disruption, Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP) applicants may experience delays with their program applications and communications such as welcome packages and dental cards. To inquire if your application is approved or for assistance, please contact the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program:

If you would like to apply to the program as a new applicant, you can either:

If you’ve already applied and want to find out about your enrolment status, call the ServiceOntario INFOline at 1-844-296-6306 or TTY at 1-800-387-5559

Publications Ontario

Certain items continue to be available online and can be delivered by courier.

Social assistance

Ontario Works , Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)  and Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD)

During the Canada Post labour disruption:

  • we will not be able to send your cheque by mail
  • we will not receive documents that you send by mail
  • payments made by direct bank deposit will continue

Contact your local office if you

  • need to set up direct bank deposit or, if available, a reloadable payment card, so you can continue to get your payments
  • need help signing up for MyBenefits  to access your Ontario Works or ODSP case information online
  • have questions about a payment status
  • have questions about other ways of receiving cheques

Special Services at Home

During the Canada Post labour disruption:

  • we will not be able to send your cheque by mail
  • we will not receive documents that you send by mail
  • payments made by direct bank deposit will continue

Contact your regional office if you:

  • need to set up direct bank deposit
  • have questions about a payment status
  • need help submitting documents like invoices or applications

Taxes, Benefits and Credits

Filing provincial tax returns and making payments

During a postal strike, clients and their representatives are responsible for filing returns and paying their taxes on time, otherwise penalties and interest may apply. You are encouraged to complete your payment electronically to avoid delays. Clients can file a provincial tax return and make payments by using one of the following options: 

  • electronically for most statutes using ONT-TAXS on-line;
  • by hand-delivery to many ServiceOntario locations; or
  • by courier or hand-delivery to the Ministry of Finance, Tax Information Centre, 33 King St. W., Oshawa, ON L1H 8H5.

Payments can also be made through Internet Banking Services at some financial institutions.

If you need to submit a payment and do not have a statement, include the following information with your payment:

  • account number (i.e., BN9), name and address;
  • business account number and extension (e.g., TE, TR, TB, etc.);
  • the periods covered as per your regular filing frequency; and
  • the amount of tax owing and your payment amount

Receiving tax rebates and refunds

Provincial tax rebate and refund cheques will not be delivered during the strike. To avoid payment delays, you are encouraged to sign up for direct deposit. If you have not signed up for direct deposit, you can complete the Direct Deposit Request Form and submit it by:

If you need more information or further assistance to complete this form, contact the Ministry of Finance by:

GAINS, COHB and housing allowance programs

Payments by cheque for the Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS), Canada Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) and housing allowance programs will continue to be delivered by Canada Post through the strike, although delivery may be delayed.

Ontarians can have these benefit payments directly deposited into their bank account by: 

Federally administered taxes, benefits and credits

Some Ontario payments such as Ontario Trillium Benefit and Ontario Seniors Home Property Tax Grant issued by cheque will be impacted by a labour disruption as cheques will be held. Direct deposit payments will remain unchanged and will continue to be paid as expected. To avoid payment delays, we encourage you to apply fordirect deposit with the Canada Revenue Agency.

Please visit Possible disruption of Canada Post services - Canada.ca for more information on federal benefits and services.

Please visit Canada Post mail service disruption – Impact on CRA services - Canada.ca for more information on federal taxes, benefits and credits. 

Filing a Notice of Objection

During a postal strike, the regular time limits to file a Notice of Objection still apply. As an alternative to mail, you can file a Notice of Objection:

  • electronically, using form 013-9983e - Notice of Objection;
  • by fax to 1-905-435-2000; or
  • by courier to Ministry of Finance, Tax Information Centre,33 King St. W., Oshawa, ON  L1H 8H5

If you need assistance filing your Notice of Objection, you can contact the Ministry of Finance by:

Collections

If you need assistance with collections matters, contact the Ministry of Finance by:

  • phone at 1-866-ONT-TAXS (1-866-668-8297)
  • teletypewriter at 1-800-263-7776; or
  • email at collections@ontario.ca

Contact us

For more information call us at 1-800-267-8097 or 416-326-1234