Canada Post is becoming a lightning rod on Rankin InletSA国际影视传媒檚 social media.
The company has been taking to Facebook to update the community almost every working day on the storeSA国际影视传媒檚 hours and any news of closures. The posts have been garnering dozens of comments, debate and calls for change to mailing in the North.
SA国际影视传媒淐anada Post is getting very frustrating,SA国际影视传媒� said one Chesterfield Inlet resident to Kivalliq News.
The resident requested anonymity, and though many people publicly commented on Canada PostSA国际影视传媒檚 updates, they also did not want to share their names with local media.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e sent packages to Kuglugtuk and Kuujjuak (Quebec), and they still havenSA国际影视传媒檛 arrived since late October/early November,SA国际影视传媒� said the resident. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e also been waiting for packages from Arviat since mid-October and still havenSA国际影视传媒檛 heard a word back from Canada Post.SA国际影视传媒�
The individual shared a screenshot of their tracked package, which showed the item being picked up in Chesterfield Inlet Nov. 24 and still SA国际影视传媒渋n transitSA国际影视传媒� as of Feb. 2.
SA国际影视传媒淓ven when I go check the local post office, they say theySA国际影视传媒檝e sent it and request us to check with the Kivalliq main hub, which is based in Rankin Inlet,SA国际影视传媒� said the resident, who went on to say how ridiculous it was that packages sent from Nunavut take so long to get anywhere, whereas packages from the south get up North far more quickly.
Rankin Inlet Mayor Harry Towtongie noted how Covid-19 seems to be turning things on and off all the time, and said, SA国际影视传媒淲e are getting so good at being patient.SA国际影视传媒�
Kivalliq News reached out to Canada Post when the Rankin Inlet office was closed for two days Jan. 27 and 28.
Val茅rie Chartrand, media relations worker with Canada Post, said that closure was SA国际影视传媒渄ue to Covid-19 cleaning protocols and employee isolation, as directed by public health.SA国际影视传媒�
The post office went on to open Feb. 1 and 2 for customers to access their postal boxes only, and then on Feb. 3 to also pick up parcels from the counter.
SA国际影视传媒淲e recognize the difficulties facing residents of Rankin Inlet,SA国际影视传媒� Chartrand stated. SA国际影视传媒淲e are working hard to keep the post office operating and open as it faces various challenges as seen across the territory, such as weather and staffing issues related Covid-19. We will continue to provide updates as information becomes available. We appreciate our customersSA国际影视传媒� understanding and cooperation during this time and thank them for staying patient and keeping the post office friendly.SA国际影视传媒�
Kivalliq News followed up by asking if Canada Post would bolster staffing and resources at the Rankin Inlet outlet or any of the Kivalliq facilities to avoid this problem in the future. As of publication deadline, Canada Post had not responded.
However, it seemed sentiment had change by the weekend. Canada Post opened on Sunday, Feb. 6, for full services, which was met with many thanks on Facebook.
