Canada Post says it is suspending mail delivery across Ontario and in parts of Quebec today due to a winter storm that has blanketed the provinces in snow.
The Crown corporation said it issued a “red delivery service alert” for Ontario on Thursday morning.
“A red service alert means that we are suspending delivery for the day and not sending our delivery agents out or recalling them,” Canada Post said in a statement released Thursday.
“There will also be no regular collection or delivery of mail during red alerts.”
However, in an email to CTV News Toronto, Canada Post clarified that delivery service will continue for Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins and Kapuskasing.
“The rest of Ontario remains under a red delivery service alert due to inclement weather and snow,” officials wrote in a statement.
With the exception of the Outaouais region, most of Quebec is under a “yellow service alert.”
“A yellow service alert means we are going to do our best to deliver, but there may be delays. This includes mail collection,” the statement read.
Alerts can been issued for a particular area or entire provinces “depending on the weather event,” Canada Post said.
Toronto Pearson International Airport saw 26 cm of snowfall over a 24-hour period between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, more snow than was recorded at the airport in the entire month of January.
Even more snow is expected to fall in parts of Quebec. Up to 40 centimetres of snow is expected in the Greater Montreal area on Thursday, according to Environment Canada.
Across Ontario, including the Greater Toronto Area, the inclement weather shut down schools and daycares on Thursday morning.
Canada Post said mail service will resume in Ontario “once conditions improve and it is safe to do so.”
“The safety of our employees is our number one priority,” the statement concluded.
“We encourage customers to clear the snow and ice from their walkways, stairs, and driveways, to ensure safe access to the front door for both their visitors, as well as their mail carriers, when service resumes.”
