Lethbridge's small businesses feeling the impact of continued Canada Post strike

Canada Post employees and supporters rally as they are reflected in a window at Canada Post headquarters in Ottawa, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

It’s been four weeks since Canada Post employees went on strike, and small business owners in Lethbridge say the ongoing dispute makes it hard to keep shelves stocked.

"A lot of our shippers or people that haul for us are now being burdened with stuff for the postal service, because stuff that (would have been shipped in) the mail is going through them," said Kent Just, co-owner of Meadow Lane Candy & Gifts.

"When we run out of product, that stuff is on order, (then) it's been shipped, but we can't even give a date as to when it's getting arrive."

Penny Warris, co-owner of Analog Books, says even though her company doesn't use Canada Post too much, they do use couriers.

"The couriers have just been so badly backed up," she said. "All of our couriers have told us horror stories of starting at 4 a.m. They're working all day."

On Friday, Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon announced he's pausing the work stoppage until spring.

Warris says even if the labour dispute comes to an end, it will take a while for them for everything to go back to normal at her business.

"It'll be a long, a long slog," she said.