Province ensures delivery of social assistance cheques

If there was no resolution to the Canada Post lockout by midday Friday, the ministry planned to implement an alternate distribution plan

VICTORIA – As of press-time late last week, the provincial government was closely monitoring the Canada Post labor situation to ensure that British Columbians who are on income assistance receive their June cheques on time.

If there was no resolution to the Canada Post lockout by midday Friday, the ministry planned to implement an alternate distribution plan to ensure income assistance payments are available to clients as scheduled.

About 80 per cent of British Columbians on income assistance receive their payments via direct deposit and would not be affected by the Canada Post job action.

However, about 18,000 income-assistance clients still receive cheques in the mail for a variety of reasons.

The ministry also mails approximately 80,000 vendor cheques for rent and utilities each month.

– Ministry of Social Development

Clearwater Times