Fort Chip post office reopens

Canada Post blames closing on staffing issue

The post office in Fort Chipewyan reopened Tuesday following a period of interrupted service.

Canada Postmedia relations manager Carley Smith said the outlet’s hours should start to become more regular as officials work to resolve a staffing issue.

On Monday, residents of the isolated native community 300 kilometres north of Fort McMurray complained that they were being forced to go without mail service for a second week.

A call to the postal outlet on Tuesday morning went unanswered.

On Monday, everyone from health officials to the RCMP expressed concern over the situation.

“They need to send somebody up right away,” Dr. Esther Tailfeathers, the hamlet’s lone physician, said. “If this goes on another couple of days we might see people getting sick.

“T here a re all sorts of complications.”

Tailfeathers, who flies into Fort Chipewyan for appointments one week each month, arrived on Monday and found patients were out of medication and the local nursing station low on supplies.

“It is getting to be quite a crisis,” she said. “We have people who need medicine that is most likely locked up in the post office, I am waiting for letters with referrals from specialists, and I am waiting for results from stress and cancer tests for my patients. The situation is pretty bad.”

Smith said via email Monday that the postal outlet in Fort Chipewyan had been open only sporadically since July 6.

“We are working as quickly as possible to resolve these issues.” C arley Smith, Canada Post

“We are absolutely working as quickly as possible to ensure we get someone up there, even if it’s temporary,” she said. “We are working as quickly as possible to resolve these issues, and apologize for any inconvenience it may cause.”

RCMP Sgt. Gordon Patey, who oversees the local Mountie detachment, said he had attempted to contact Canada Post, but had yet to receive a response. The suspension of service had resulted in important police documents not being delivered, and equipment on order has not been received.

“We have tried to contact them not only about our business, but because everyone in the community is being affected,” Patey said. “It is a necessary service.”

Sarah Newman, a caregiver for native elders, said she was concerned because seniors’ monthly income cheques had yet to be distributed. To make matters worse, most pay bills with money orders — which can only be acquired in Fort Chipewyan via Canada Post.

“It’s not like they can just go down the road to Fort McMurray to get them,” Newmansaid. “It’s an eighthour boat ride.”