Ontario Works cheques won’t be mailed; pickup starts Thursday

Despite the federal government passing legislation to end the Canada Post strike, the City of Peterborough announced Tuesday afternoon that Ontario Works cheques will not be mailed to recipients.

“City of Peterborough Social Services hopes to resume normal delivery of Ontario Works cheques in December if Canada Post has resumed normal operations at that time. The city continues to monitor the situation,” a release from the city states.

Ontario Works cheques dated Nov. 30 will be available for pickup on Thursday from 8:15 a.m. to an extended closing time of 6 p.m. and Friday from of 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the city’s social services office in the Charlotte Mews at 178 Charlotte St. in downtown Peterborough.

Direct bank deposit payments will be processed into accounts on Friday as usual and statements will be mailed.

The city is asking recipients to bring personal ID when picking up an Ontario Works cheque.

Anyone picking up a cheque for someone else must provide a note from the client, the release states, and bring one piece of the client’s ID, as well as their own ID. Landlords can pick up their pay-direct cheques with ID or they can be picked up by an agent of the landlord with an official letter from the landlord.