Canada Post strike causes donations to drop in British Columbia

After Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday, it’s the turn of Giving Tuesday, a movement that calls on the population to make donations, but the generosity of British Columbians is hampered in part by the conflict at Canada Post.

Thousands of parcels and letters are being held up due to the strike launched on November 15. As a result, charities say they are unable to send out their end-of-year brochures and are also unable to receive cash or check donations in the mail.

For charities in Canada, the ongoing labor dispute is a nightmare before Christmas, says Nicole Danesi, with CanadaHelps.

She explains that since the start of the Canada Post strike, Canadian charities have seen the number of their donations drop considerably.

A number of Canadians still send a check by mail and some are not as tech savvy.

The Canadian Cancer Society, for example, has already seen an approximately 60% decrease in offline donations, representing approximately $2 millionshe told CBC News.

The period leading up to the holidays is usually a critical time to raise donations, shares Angela Chapman, president of the Vancouver General Hospital Foundation and the University of British Columbia Hospital.

She says ticket sales for the Foundation’s Millionaire Lottery this year were down 15%.

In recent years, approximately $6 million has been spent on research and procurement of medical equipment and we estimate the impact to be approximately $1 million, she specifies.

Ringtones for Kids is a small non-profit organization that knits and sends hats, gloves and socks to children in need in northern British Columbia and the territories.

Marilyn Rapanos, volunteer and member of the board of directors, says that 2,000 toques could not be sent due to the Canada Post strike.

Charities hope the labor dispute will end before Christmas or more Canadians will turn to online donations.

With information from Michelle Ghoussoub, Nav Rahi and The Canadian Press