Postal strike sparks concerns about access to health info for Airdrie cancer patient

The Alberta government says it is taking steps to address concerns about access to driver's licences and key services — including an online health portal — that may be caught up in the Canada Post strike.

CBC News reached out to the government after hearing from an Airdrie woman, battling lung cancer, who was worried the strike could jeopardize her medical care.

Alice Tucker's driver's licence renewal is being held due the Canada Post strike.

A valid driver's licence or photo identification card is needed to access Alberta.ca accounts, which provide access to a number of government services. These include vehicle registration, birth certificate applications and the province's online health portal, which people are being urged to rely on as appointment letters are no longer moving.

MyAHS Connect, which is part of the province's online tool, allows patients to communicate with their health-care team, manage medical appointments and request prescription renewals, among other things.

Without an access code (found on the back of the card) Tucker was worried communication with her medical care team would be impacted. That code is required to keep the account validated.

"It is very upsetting," Tucker said in an interview with CBC News earlier this week.

She tried multiple times to get the licence released and to obtain another access code through government departments and a registry, with no luck.

"It adds stress. And then your body really cannot rest or fight — which you need to do to heal effectively — and it really is impossible to get rid of this stress when you're being sent in circles"

Government response

CBC News reached out to the government to get answers and find out what is being done to address the situation.

The province confirmed all driver's licences and identification cards that it was processing when the strike hit are being held until mail delivery resumes.

A spokesperson for the Minister of Service Alberta said the government is taking steps to ensure people have access to the online accounts.

"We are working with registry agents to ensure Albertans awaiting their final card in the mail who need the audit control number (ACN) off the back of the new card can visit any registry agent location in-person and prove their identity to be provided the ACN number," Brandon Aboultaif, the press secretary to Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally, said in an email.

This new process should be available Friday, he said.

The province is also extending temporary driver's licences for those affected.

"Interim paper driver's licences issued between November 1, 2024, and January 14, 2025, have also been extended, so they will now be valid until February 15, 2025. This change is automatic, and no action is required by the licence holder," he said.

According to the provincial government, people can keep their previous driver's licences or identification cards as photo ID until their new one arrives in the mail. The old ones are to be destroyed when new cards arrive.

Meanwhile, Alberta Health said it, too, is working to address gaps created by the ongoing strike.

"Alberta's government and Alberta Health Services (AHS) are taking proactive steps to minimize the impact of the Canada Post strike by identifying alternative mail delivery options and switching to other communication methods to ensure patients are not affected," an Alberta Health spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

"In areas like cancer care, AHS is actively reaching out to patients to follow up on refill requests and prescription renewals during this period. Patients experiencing difficulties contacting their care team can reach out to their specific cancer centre directly to confirm appointments or get more information."

Patients can also call Health Link (811) for help, the province said.

 There is also a 30-day period during which people can continue accessing their health information while waiting for their new driver's licence, the statement said.

According to the province, approximately 48 per cent of eligible Albertans (14 years and up) are signed up for MyHealth Records.

Meanwhile, Tucker is relieved to hear the government is acting and she hopes communication improves.

"This was very, very stressful because I really felt like nobody really cared," she said.

"That has relieved a lot of the stress that I was under, even a few days ago. So it has helped," she said.