Saskatchewan puts plan in place if Canada Post goes on strike

With the chance that Canada Post could be going on strike in the near future, the province is implementing plans to make sure that cheque payments are available to clients and service providers.

READ MORE: Union: Canada Post’s last-ditch effort to avoid strike is ‘inadequate’

Most monthly cheques were mailed on June 23 or earlier and should arrive prior to any postal disruption.

These include cheques from the following ministry programs:

• Saskatchewan Assistance Program;
• Transitional Employment Allowance;
• Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability;
• Child and Family Programs; and
• Community Living (Family Respite, Approved Private-Service Homes, Cognitive Disability Strategy).

Most of the ministry’s payments are made through direct deposit, but clients who do not receive payments through direct deposit can pick up their cheques at ministry service centres throughout the province until the risk of a Canada Post strike is over.

Ministry clients who still received printed cheques are asked to consider switching to direct deposit to avoid these disruptions in the future.

How to pay your taxes to the province:

For businesses that are required to pay their consumption taxes by the monthly deadline of the 20th of each month.

Options include:

• Businesses registered with the Saskatchewan Electronic Tax Service (SETS) can file as usual.
• Businesses not registered with SETS can log onto to www.saskatchewan.ca/finance and click on the E-file logo. The business can then file the return using the EFILE code printed on the tax return. Payment of the tax owing may be made through Internet banking. Businesses will need to set up Saskatchewan Finance as a payee and provide their tax account number.
• Businesses may take the completed tax return and payment to some chartered banks. Saskatchewan credit unions, CIBC and the Bank of Montreal have discontinued offering this service.

Businesses are required to file and pay their taxes on time even if there is a postal disruption.

The Ministry of Finance has two locations in Saskatchewan that will accept tax returns and payment of taxes:

Regina:
2350 Albert Street
Main Floor

Saskatoon:
122-3rd Avenue
10th Floor, Room 1016

If the Canada Post strike continues for an extended period of time and the Ministry is unable to mail out future tax returns, businesses may sign up for email notifications for future tax returns through the province’s SETS application.

The province will issue updates as they are required.