Emergency mail plan ready in event Canada Post service disrupted.

M2 PRESSWIRE-May 31, 2011-: Emergency mail plan ready in event Canada Post service disrupted(C)1994-2011 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

RDATE:31052011

Edmonton... As part of its emergency mail plan, the Government of Alberta will use provincial offices to ensure critical mail continues to flow between Albertans and the provincial government in the event of a prolonged service disruption.

"Albertans can rest assured that important mail from the provincial government, such as benefit cheques, will continue to be available," said Heather Klimchuk, Minister of Service Alberta.

Provincial offices across the province will be used as mail collection and drop-off points during the postal strike.

Albertans who need to send mail to a provincial government department can deliver it to the nearest provincial office. No stamps will be required, and to avoid delivery delays envelopes should contain full addresses of both the sender and recipient.

Albertans who receive mail from the provincial government will be notified of the time and location their mail will be available for pick-up, unless departments have made alternate arrangements. Generally, Albertans will be directed to the nearest provincial office or government courier location in their community to pick up their mail.

Some departments will be participating in a Canada Post program to deliver provincial government socio-economic cheques one day per month during the strike. Albertans who receive these cheques are reminded that many departments offer direct deposit services. For more information, or to sign up for direct deposit, contact the government department that issues the payment.

To find out when the emergency mail plan has been activated, Albertans can visit www.servicealberta.ca or call 310-0000 toll free.

Backgrounder: Special mail delivery arrangements

Media inquiries may be directed to:

Sharon Lopatka

Communications

Service Alberta

780-415-6051

To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000. May 31, 2011

Special mail delivery arrangements

The following program areas have made special arrangements to accommodate the needs of their clients.

Apprenticeship and Industry Training

Correspondence will be delivered to Apprenticeship and Industry Training offices throughout Alberta. To pick up mail in person, valid government picture identification will be required. To find local offices, go to www.tradesecrets.alberta.ca , or call toll-free 310-0000 in Alberta.

AISH payments

Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) has released payments for June 2011 early for clients scheduled to receive payment by cheque. Although this payment was earlier than expected, it was intended for June benefits only. All payments scheduled to be made by direct deposit will be deposited as normal.

Children and Youth Services

Clients of Children and Youth Services and caregivers, who are issued payment by cheque through the mail, will be able to pick up their payments at local Child and Family Services Authority offices. Recipients will be notified by staff when payments are available. Locations of Children and Youth Services offices can be found at www.child.alberta.ca/home/local_offices.cfm

Clients and caregivers receiving payments through direct bank deposit will receive payments as scheduled.

Health Benefits cards

All new Alberta Child Health Benefit clients will have their Health Benefits Cards couriered to them.

For all Health Benefits clients, annual renewal documents and applications may be dropped off at any provincial government office for forwarding to the Health Benefits Contact Centre.

Alberta Adult Health Benefits clients may use their cards from previous months to access health benefits. Your health providers can call Alberta Blue Cross or the Alberta Dental Services Corporation to verify your file number. For more detailed information, please call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre at 1-877-644-9992 (780-644-9992 in Edmonton) or go to www.employment.alberta.ca .

Income support clients

Income support clients who receive a cheque and a health benefits card will have their payment sent to the local Alberta Works office to be picked up. A list of Alberta Works offices can be found at www.employment.alberta.ca/offices .

Learners cheques

Learners eligible for training benefits under the Learner Income Support program may pick up their cheque at their school or training provider.

Maintenance Enforcement Clients

Debtors can still make payments through automated bank withdrawal, automatic deduction from their paycheque, or telephone or internet banking. Debtors who do not have one of these forms of payment already in place should contact MEP if they have any questions. Forms for automated bank withdrawal and automatic deduction from their paycheques are available on MEP's website.

Employers who are paying on behalf of their employees can also make payments electronically or drop payments at a Government of Alberta office. Clients can also drop mail for the MEP at MEP's Edmonton or Calgary locations (see MEP's website for locations) or at a Government of Alberta office. Please ensure all mail is addressed to MEP at 7th Floor, 10365 97 Street, Edmonton AB T5J 3W7.

Documents, including Statement of Finances or Child Status Reports, can be faxed to MEP at 780-401-7575. Please clearly indicate your name and MEP file number on all documents.

Post-secondary education funding

Students who have questions about their funding are encouraged to visit www.alis.alberta.ca (click on the 'Students Finance' tab under Quick Links) or call the Student Funding Contact Centre toll-free at 1-800-222-6485; in Edmonton at (780) 427-3722. Alternatively, students may speak to the Financial Aid or Student Awards office at their respective post-secondary institution.

Registries

Albertans who need to send mail to Registry Services can personally deliver or courier the mail to Registry Services Document Reception locations in Calgary or Edmonton. A list of Registry Services Document Reception locations can be found at www.servicealberta.ca .

Driver's licence and vehicle registration renewal is required despite a postal strike. Albertans should check the expiry dates on their driver's licence, identification cards and vehicle registrations to determine if they need to be renewed. Clients can renew their documents at a registry agent office. If clients had recently sent in their renewals by mail or through the Internet, but had not received their updated documents before the mail strike began they will need to attend a registry agent office.

Land Titles and Vital Statistics mail will be held at the Registry Services Document Reception locations for pick up. All documents normally mailed to clients that are not picked up during the strike will be mailed once the strike is ended.

For more detailed information or to contact Registry Services call 310-0000 or 780-427-7013 or go to www.servicealberta.ca .

Seniors Benefit cheques

The handful of seniors who still receive the Alberta Seniors Benefit by cheque will be getting their June cheque early. All payments scheduled to be made by direct deposit will be deposited as normal.

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