Hello, Nickel Belt! Best wishes for the holiday season! Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with peace and happiness! Please note that both the Val Caron and the Sturgeon Falls constituency offices will be closed from Monday, December 23rd, and reopened on Monday, January 6^th, 2024.

Press Releases, letters, and funding opportunities

• Celebrating the leadership of persons with disabilities in Nickel Belt to build a more inclusive and accessible country
• Measure to provide GST/HST relief
• MP Serré Reflects on a Year of Progress in Nickel Belt
• Federal government commits more than $14 million to the City of Greater Sudbury through the new Canada Public Transit Fund
  
  

Community Engagement

• MP Serré met with Jeff Gaulin, General Manager, Corporate Affairs with Vale Base Metals to discuss ongoing business
• MP Serré recognized Jules Watts from Field for her incredible work on the art cover of the 2025 MP mailout calendar
• MP Serré met with representatives of Tree Canada and Forests Ontario, to discuss topics like forestry, conservation, and the success of the 2 Billion Tree Program
• MP Serré met with Gimaa Ominika and Counsellor Dube of Wiikwemkoong to discuss concerns about housing, especially for aging populations, and issues surrounding policing
• MP Serré met with the Honourable Jean-Claude D’Amours, Member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Immigration and Military Affairs concerning official languages and forestry
• MP Serré met with Martin Normand from the Association des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne to discuss critical issues in our sector
• MP Serré held the annual MP holiday waving campaign in Nickel Belt communities
• MP Serré met with representatives of the Nation of the Amikwa Nipissing Allies
• MP Serré met with Joe DiPietro, President and CEO of Autumnwood Mature Lifestyle to discuss aging populations, housing, and more
• MP Serré continues to perform his parliamentary duties and parliamentary secretary duties for both his Official Languages role and his Energy and Natural Resources role and his role on various committees.
• MP Serré continues to meet with staff in his constituency office, residents, stakeholders, municipal leaders, Indigenous communities, non-profit organizations, local entrepreneurs and more, to take the pulse of the priorities of the region.

Canada Post Update

Canada Post has resumed operations following a nearly month-long strike that concluded on December 17.

Mail Delivery Expectations:

• Processing Backlog: Canada Post is currently addressing a significant accumulation of mail and parcels that built up during the strike. This backlog includes both domestic and international items.
• Delivery Delays: Customers should anticipate delays in receiving mail and parcels as operations normalize. While Canada Post is expediting efforts to manage the backlog, it may take some time before regular delivery schedules are fully restored.
• International Mail: The postal system will start accepting new international mail on Monday, December 23. However, due to the existing backlog, delays are expected into 2025.

Recommendations for Customers:

• Monitor Mail Status: If you're expecting important mail or parcels, consider using Canada Post's tracking tools to monitor the status of your items.
• Plan Ahead: Given the anticipated delays, it's advisable to allow extra time for mail delivery, especially for time-sensitive items.
• Contact Senders: For critical deliveries, reach out to the sender to explore alternative shipping options if necessary.

For Passport Applicants:

1. Delivery Delays:
   Passports that were held during the strike are being mailed out, but delivery times may be delayed as Canada Post addresses the backlog.
2. Options to Expedite:
   • In-Person Pickup: If your travel is urgent, contact Service Canada to arrange for in-person pickup at a designated location.
   • Express Services: Apply for urgent or express services, available for those with travel plans within 25 business days.
3. What to Expect Now:
   • Standard processing times are 10 business days for in-person applications at Sudbury’s Service Canada location and roughly 5-6 business weeks for mail-in applications (excluding delivery times).
   • For updates, visit the Passport Canada website.

Need Assistance?

• Contact Service Canada at 1-800-567-6868 for application updates or to change your delivery method.
• Use the online status tracker to monitor progress.