“Effectively, we’ve lost Christmas with Canada Post,” said Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, in an interview with Global News.

Those hoping to receive holiday gifts through Canada Post should not expect a Christmas miracle this year. Experts predict it could take up to a month to clear the backlog of parcels and letters.

“It’s not like starting your car after it’s been parked for three weeks. In some of the larger facilities, it could take up to five days just to begin processing items,” explained Fraser Johnson, a professor of operations management at Western University’s Ivey Business School, in an interview with the Toronto Star.

Reports indicate Canada Post missed delivering 12 million parcels in early December, according to the Financial Pos.

Johnson further clarified that for every day of delay in the supply chain, it could take about five additional days to clear the backlog.

“Canadian consumers need to brace for the reality that Christmas 2024, in terms of shipping capacity, has already hit its limit,” Kelly told Global News. He recommended shopping locally, saying, “Please visit your local businesses for gifts you can hand-deliver or purchase in-store.”

He also added, “Even if the strike were resolved today, Canada Post wouldn’t be able to clear the backlog in time to deliver packages before the holidays. For 2024, Canada Post is essentially out of commission. It’s not a viable option for small businesses this year.”

On Friday, Canada Post and its employees, represented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), marked the 29th day of their strike. The 55,000 workers are demanding better wages, improved working conditions, the right to retire with dignity, and expanded services at public post offices. The strike began on November 15, after a year of unproductive bargaining.

Canada Post rejected the union’s latest offer, saying it would “add billions of dollars in unsustainable fixed costs,” according to a December 11 statement.

Jan Simpson, the union’s national president, urged workers to remain firm. “The pressure of public opinion, financial strain, and constant pushback can make even the most determined question this fight. But it’s important to remember why this strike matters. This isn’t just about pay or benefits—it’s about fairness, dignity, and recognizing the crucial role the work plays in connecting communities across the country,” Simpson said in a statement on Thursday.

She added, “Every letter, package, and cheque you handle plays an essential role in keeping communities connected and life running smoothly. Yet, this importance is often overlooked in the hustle and bustle of daily life.”

On Friday, Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon requested the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to assess the situation and potentially order workers back to their jobs if a deal is not reached.

In a post on X, MacKinnon stated that if CIRB determines a deal won’t be reached by the end of 2024, they should mandate union workers return to work and extend existing agreements until May 22, 2025. He also plans to appoint an Industrial Inquiry Commission (IIC) to examine the dispute and provide recommendations by May 15, 2025.

The union, however, issued a statement condemning the government’s intervention. “The Union strongly denounces this assault on our constitutionally protected right to collectively bargain and strike,” the statement read. “This order reflects a troubling pattern where the government uses its arbitrary powers to let employers off the hook, drag their feet, and refuse to bargain in good faith with workers and unions.”

The union also noted that the situation is “rapidly evolving” and they need more time to assess the details. “We are currently reviewing the order and considering all of our options moving forward,” said CUPW.

Kelly of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business added, “It seems the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) will have 72 hours to complete its work before issuing a back-to-work order on Monday.”

“This means Canada Post workers may return to their jobs as early as next week,” he said. CFIB estimates that small businesses are losing a combined $100 million every day due to the strike.

“This will be too late to save any part of the Christmas season for small businesses,” Kelly said. “With such a massive backlog, it will be nearly impossible for new shipments to reach Canadians before Christmas through Canada Post.”

Larry Savage, a labor professor at Brock University, discussed the strike’s impact, noting that public support for the union has been lukewarm. “As strikes drag on, they become harder to sustain, and if the public isn’t supporting you, it can be demoralizing for the union,” he told the Canadian Press. He added that it remains “unclear” who is winning the public’s favor.

A poll conducted in early December revealed that Canadians weren’t overly affected by the strike. “As the two sides exchange proposals, Canadians seem to sympathize with both perspectives. One-third (34%) believe Canada Post is justified in pushing back on demands and trying to change its business model due to financial struggles,” the survey showed. “A similar proportion (29%) supports the union’s demands. About one-quarter (23%) offer no sympathy, likely just wanting their packages delivered.”

As the holiday season approaches, Vancouver Island is expected to experience several rounds of precipitation. However, unless you’re heading to the mountains, a white Christmas is unlikely.

Matt Loney, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, explained that the likelihood of snow is “very low to minimal, or even zero.”

Meteorologists have run models consistently over the past few days, and the results have remained unchanged. “The models are showing a consistent response, which reinforces the idea that low-level snow is unlikely for Vancouver Island,” Loney said. “It’s very unlikely we’ll see any Arctic air before Christmas.”

So, whether you’re celebrating a winter holiday or not, it seems Vancouver Island will be snow-free this Christmas.

Rain, however, is expected around several key dates: the Winter Solstice on December 21, Christmas Day, the start of Hanukkah on December 25, and Kwanzaa starting on December 26.

For those planning to visit higher elevations, such as Mount Washington or Mount Cain, snow conditions should be favorable. “The snow and freezing levels will be enough to create a good snowpack at Mount Washington for Christmas,” Loney noted.

While snow is unlikely for most of Vancouver Island, heavy rainfall is much more probable. Forecast models show incoming disturbances, with the mid-Island region likely to see the heaviest rainfall.

“There’s still some uncertainty in the models,” Loney said, “but stormy weather is definitely on the way.”

A proposed wind farm for the Strathcona Regional District is one of nine renewable energy projects that received approval earlier this week.

To expedite these projects, the province announced it is waiving environmental assessments (EA).

Energy and Climate Solutions Minister Adrian Dix announced this exemption at a press conference on December 9. He confirmed that the wind power projects, which will be co-owned by First Nations, will receive 30-year production contracts with BC Hydro.

“We urgently need these new energy generation projects to meet the growing demand for power and to accelerate our efforts to build a prosperous and inclusive clean economy,” Dix said. “We’re going to work together with BC Hydro, First Nations, and project proponents to get these projects built quickly, responsibly, and efficiently, and get those turbines spinning.”

Named the Brewster Wind Project, the plan includes a capacity of up to 200 megawatts with around 30 wind turbines. According to current provincial regulations, wind projects exceeding 50 megawatts or more than 15 turbines typically require an EA.

Megan Hunter from Capstone Infrastructure, the Toronto-based company behind the project, expressed surprise at the EA exemption but said it is too early to discuss changes in the construction timeline.

“B.C. has strong environmental protections, and we plan to complete robust consultation and engagement with Indigenous groups and the local community, as their input will improve the project,” Hunter stated in an email. “Wildlife, environmental, noise, and cultural impact studies will still be conducted.”

Chief Chris Roberts of Wei Wai Kum First Nation, partnering with Capstone, emphasized the nation’s commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship. He expressed confidence in Capstone’s capability as a seasoned developer, owner, and operator of renewable energy facilities.

“We understand there is an enhanced permitting process being developed to reduce duplication and inefficiencies in the current EA process,” Roberts wrote. “Our goal is to minimize and mitigate potential negative impacts on wildlife and the environment, regardless of the permitting process.”

The province reiterated its commitment to “robust environmental standards” in a December 9 media release, mentioning a “one window” permitting approach to streamline regulatory processes.

The decision to waive environmental assessments has been met with some surprise.

UBC professor emeritus Michael Healey highlighted the challenges associated with wind farms, such as potential harm to birds, significant land use, and noise concerns.

“I personally don’t think it’s wise to start any large industrial project without thorough environmental analysis, regardless of who is involved,” Healey wrote in an email. “Assuming that First Nations’ involvement means all environmental issues will be fully considered is misguided. The government often incentivizes Indigenous governments to accept projects they might otherwise reject.”

Dissatisfaction with the EA process among First Nations in B.C. has been growing for years. A significant portion of EA litigation in the province has been initiated by First Nations, encompassing broader concerns such as strategic planning, land use, and assessment procedures, according to a 2010 report by UVic’s Environmental Law Centre.

Tahsis Mayor Martin Davis, a regional district director and cave researcher, called the EA exemption decision “surprising.” He emphasized the need for some form of assessment from an economic standpoint.

When the wind project was proposed late in the summer, Davis highlighted the importance of consulting caving and paleontology experts to assess the area. He noted that some ridges in the area contain limestone, which would need to be avoided to ensure the turbines remain stable.

“From an economic perspective, placing wind turbines on limestone could lead to structural failures,” Davis told the Mirror.

Davis also mentioned that caves in the area could serve as critical habitats for bats.

Summary

We are looking for other like-minded, committed, hard working, energetic people to share our land and way of life with. We are hoping that by sharing our knowledge and skills, as well as our land, we will create a healthy, vibrant homesteading community. A collaborative, long-term arrangement is a possibility for the right person or family. Ultimately, we would like to see a land succession model that allows us to age in place on our homestead while providing an opportunity for new people interested in this type of lifestyle to access land more affordably.

About the Opportunity

We have retired and hope to live the remainder of our lives on our land while seeing the homestead develop with a successional plan in place. We feel that this property has the potential to support more than one family, and we would be happy to share our way of life with other like-minded, committed, hard working, energetic people. We are hoping that by sharing our knowledge and skills, as well as our land, we will create a healthy, vibrant homesteading community and provide an opportunity for new people interested in this type of lifestyle to access land more affordably. If you want more information about us, please go to our blog at Storytelling – The adventure goes on ….

In our current environment of unpredictable weather and rising costs of living, we are working towards developing a resilient, sustainable, subsidence homestead. Currently, we generate more than 80% of our own electricity using solar and picohydro systems and grow/forage approximately 60% of our own food. Our young orchard, once it reaches production, will further increase the amount of food we can harvest from the property. Adding small livestock (chickens, sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits) would bring our food sustainability close to 100%. We have lived on the property for 10 years, and during the floods, droughts, and COVID pandemic which have devastated British Columbia, we have been amazingly sheltered.

Our main reasons for seeking additional participants in our homesteading endeavor are companionship, development of a small “community” with enhanced self-reliance, safety, and livestock care when we must be away from the property. This is not a job offering or a money-making opportunity. This is a chance for the adventurous-at-heart to engage in an incredible nature-oriented, healthy, and fulfilling lifestyle.

We seek to manage the land for long-term sustainability, based on permaculture principles (see Permaculture Design Project for Port Neville) and other ecologically sound practices. We do not practice unsustainable harvesting of the land, and approximately 80% of the property is being retained as a wildlife habitat.

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