The Government of Ontario is advising residents that due to the ongoing Canada Post strike, the mailing of driver’s licences, health cards, vehicle stickers, renewal notices, and a range of other government documents will be delayed until regular postal service resumes. The postal disruption, launched nationwide by the union representing Canada Post workers on September 25, is affecting the delivery of all provincial products that rely on mail service.
While new or renewed cards and documents will not be delivered during the strike, Ontarians can still apply for and renew their driver’s licences, health cards, and other forms of identification online or in person at ServiceOntario centres. Individuals are advised to keep their transaction receipts and temporary validation documents as proof of renewal until the physical cards arrive. These temporary documents are required to remain valid for driving and identification purposes.
Drivers are reminded that temporary driver’s licence or Ontario photo card validation slips do have an expiry date. If the temporary document is within seven days of expiry, a visit to ServiceOntario is required to obtain a new temporary document, which will be issued free of charge. Holders of commercial driver’s licences and drivers aged 70 or older will not receive their usual renewal reminder letters during the postal disruption and are encouraged to check the expiry date of their licences. All Ontario driver’s licences expire on the cardholder’s birthday.
Vehicle plate renewals are also impacted. Most personal vehicle plates now renew automatically in Ontario; however, drivers with outstanding fines, tolls, or fees will not have their plates renewed automatically and will not receive courtesy renewal reminders. These drivers can check their plate status online and take corrective action, such as paying outstanding fees, to bring their plates into good standing. Owners of jointly registered vehicles or vehicles requiring plate stickers, including commercial vehicles, will also not receive reminder letters during the strike. In these cases, renewal stickers will be sent by courier, except for PO box or rural route addresses without civic numbers. Residents with these types of addresses who require stickers immediately must visit a ServiceOntario location.
For health cards, individuals whose cards are expiring during the postal strike can renew online or in person at ServiceOntario. Those who renew are advised to keep their receipts as temporary proof of OHIP coverage. This temporary proof does not expire and can be used alongside an expired health card until the new card arrives. Emergency health services will continue to be available to anyone whose health card expires during the postal disruption.
To avoid missing renewal reminders, Ontarians can sign up to receive notices by email, text message, or phone at ontario.ca/reminders or by calling ServiceOntario at 1-800-387-3445 (TTY: 1-800-268-7095).
In addition to driver’s licences, health cards, and vehicle stickers, the Canada Post strike is affecting the mailing of several other provincial documents and programs, including accessible parking permits, birth, marriage and death certificates, Assistive Devices Program items, Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program materials, tax and benefits communications, and more. Full details are available on the Government of Ontario’s website.
The province continues to monitor the situation closely and encourages residents to use online services wherever possible during the postal disruption.