Canada Post technical fault disrupts in-branch domestic shipping between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal

TORONTO — Canada Post has announced that technical disruptions are affecting domestic shipping transactions at post offices, particularly in the areas between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. The problems come as the holiday shopping season approaches, a period that usually brings a rise in parcel traffic.

The technical problems began on Friday, Nov. 6, and have continued to affect some transactions that customers carry out directly at postal branches.

The corporation said it is working to fix the fault as quickly as possible, but it has not announced a specific date for affected services to return to normal.

Which areas are most affected?

Canada Post said the problem mainly affects parcel transactions to and from postal codes in the geographic corridor between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.

That includes major urban areas in Ontario and Quebec, but the company has not published a detailed list of all the affected postal codes.

The fault relates to transactions customers carry out at Canada Post retail outlets, not to a nationwide halt of all delivery services.

This means whether a particular transaction is affected may depend on the point of origin or destination and on how the shipping service is purchased.

The company did not say how many offices are affected or how many parcels could not be processed since the problem began.

Online shipping still available

Canada Post assured customers that the fault does not affect shipments created online.

This clarification allows individuals and businesses to use online shipping tools to create parcel transactions, rather than relying solely on completing them at post offices.

The company also confirmed that shipments to the United States or other international destinations are not covered by the problem it announced.

This does not mean that all types of domestic shipping have stopped, or that parcels registered earlier have necessarily been lost or delayed.

The report places the problem in the processing of shipping transactions inside branches, without providing data showing that the transport or distribution of parcels has been disrupted nationally.

Prepaid boxes as a temporary solution

Canada Post spokesperson Genevieve Joly said the corporation is working to resolve the fault, noting that customers can currently buy prepaid shipping boxes known as Canada Post Flat Rate Boxes to send parcels within the country.

These boxes offer an alternative for some shipments, subject to restrictions on size, weight and the type of contents.

However, they are not necessarily suitable for all parcels, especially large shipments or those that require additional services not available with this option.

Customers are therefore advised to check the conditions and prices before buying, and not to assume the alternative will meet all their needs.

Concerns as the holiday season nears

The fault coincides with preparations by stores, businesses and individuals for an increase in shipments ahead of the Christmas and year-end season.

Some customers may face difficulties when trying to send gifts or business orders through the affected offices, which makes planning ahead important to avoid delays.

Small online stores rely on postal services to send customers' purchases within Canada, and they may need to use online shipping tools or check the options available at branches.

However, the corporation has not provided official estimates of commercial losses or the number of customers affected, and it has not linked the fault to labour disruption or a cyberattack.

What affected customers can do

People who have been unable to complete shipping transactions can check Canada Post's online tools or ask whether prepaid boxes can be used.

Customers should make sure a transaction has been completed successfully before leaving the branch, and keep the payment receipt and tracking number when available.

They can also follow the official service alerts page for updates on the operation of postal tools.

As of Monday evening, Nov. 9, the corporation had not announced a confirmed date for the end of the fault, while stressing that online shipping and international shipments remain outside the scope of the problem.