The federal government has not been able to reach a deal with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC). As a result, 155,000 federal employees began their strike on Wednesday.
PSAC represents roughly 35,000 workers at the Canada Revenue Agency and 120,000 employees in a variety of departments, including tradespeople, teachers, firefighters, Employment Insurance and Immigration workers.
Here are the disruptions you can expect:
The Canada Revenue Agency says certain services such as processing income taxes and benefit returns will be delayed and that filing taxes by paper will be unavailable entirely. Tax returns are still due on April 30 despite the strike.
Passport services will be heavily impacted by the strike, with the delivery of passports being limited only to “clients experiencing humanitarian or emergency situations.” Passport renewals will also be unavailable during the strike.
Transport Canada says people can expect to see delays when applying for licenses, certificates and registrations. Motor vehicle safety complaints hotlines will also be disrupted.
Employment and Social Development Canada says clients should expect longer processing and wait times in call centres and Service Canada locations. In-person services are limited to those requiring Employment Insurance, Social Insurance Numbers, Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says services will only be available online and that clients can expect further delays with processing applications and any in-person appointments such as citizenship ceremonies and passport services.
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program and Canada Disability Savings Bond services may see partial or full disruptions during the strike.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police says that while regular police services will be available across Canada, administrative support and public media relations will see disruptions.
The Canadian Coast Guard says lighthouses, and the wrecked, abandoned and hazardous vessels, which aim to protect coastal communities, may be partially or completely disrupted during the strike. Indigenous Funding Programs, Licensing, Small Craft Harbours and Fisheries Management are also expected disruptions.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada says programs that will see disruptions due to the strike are AgriInvest, AgriStability, Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program, Wine Sector Support Program, and Youth Employment and Skills Program.
PSAC president Chris Aylward is calling on the government to start negotiating “seriously” and said the union is ready to strike as long as it takes to reach a fair deal.
“We cannot sign a blank cheque. Numerous PSAC demands are unrealistic. We have no doubt that there is enough common ground to reach an agreement,” said Treasury Board President Mona Fortier.
PSAC demanded up to 47% compensation increases over three years, according to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, which would cost taxpayers $9.3 billion. The average pay for a full-time federal employee is $125,300 including pension and benefits, according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer.
