Cheques arrive after two-week wait
Canada Post unsure what delayed Old Age Security, CPP payments to Fort Good Hope
Miranda Scotland
Northern News Services
Published Monday, November 24, 2014
RADILIH KOE'/FORT GOOD HOPE
Elders in Fort Good Hope received their federal government cheques Nov. 14 after waiting more than two weeks for them to arrive in the mail.
Old Age Security and Canadian Pension Plan cheques were supposed to be paid out on Oct. 29, according to Service Canada's website. Fort Good Hope residents who've setup direct deposit received their money on time however, those who rely on the mail were left waiting.
Spokesperson for Canada Post John Caines said it's unclear what caused the delay.
"We're not certain what happened to them," he stated in an e-mail to News/North. "But (we) will monitor the network to ensure the cheques are delivered on time going forward."
Mail is flown into Fort Good Hope, which has a population of less than 600, after first arriving in Yellowknife and Norman Wells.
Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya said a backup plan should be in place in case the issue arises again in the future.
"If, for example, there's $20,000 that's supposed to be mailed, then the Government of Canada should guarantee through the band that there will be funds here so they can have the elders come and pick up the amount they're going to get through the cheque system," he said.
Greg Laboucan, chief of Fort Good Hope, agrees the government should implement a plan B, although he's not optimistic it will happen. The Canada Post also needs to do its part to ensure smooth delivery, he added.
"I know people are suggesting everyone should be using online banking, direct deposits. But we're talking about elders here who have a certain way of doing their own work, their business and don't they like to be online."
