The Hook

The mail is a lot slower in and out of Haida Gwai after Air Canada quit carrying it last month. Residents not only worry about getting pay cheques and medicine when they need them, but also whether their vote will get counted on election day.

Doug Burles in Sandspit won’t be on the islands for the federal election on Oct. 14, but wasn’t prepared to take 4 hours out of his day, not to mention the $30 fare, to ride the ferry to Queen Charlotte for the recent advance polls.

Now he’s worried whether his mail-in ballot will arrive in time for him to fill it out and return it before October 14.

Haida Gwaii mail now is shipped by BC Ferries — which in the winter travels back and forth to the islands only three days a week — and then by truck to urban destinations. Important items ranging from loan papers to boat engine parts are taking up to 12 days to arrive on the islands, whereas overnight service used to be the norm.

Veterinarian Don Richardson, who relied on Canada Post’s Priority Courier to ship lab work, has complained to his MP Nathan Cullen and his MLA Gary Coons. “This is an election year and it’s not acceptable,” he said.

Ottawa-based Canada Post spokesperson John Caines said the situation is not unique to Haida Gwaii. "We are no longer using Air Canada anywhere in the country." Canada Post has made new arrangements for air mail between major centres. But Haida Gwaii isn’t part of the new network.

Meanwhile Queen Charlotte pharmacist Daryl Regier is getting complaints from his narcotics distributors. He must confirm receipt of these medicines within eight days, but since airmail service has stopped, he’s missed the deadline several times. He’s also worried about the late arrival of an HIV emergency kit that he recently ordered. Delays put at risk patients, who “can develop resistant strains,” he said.

Canada Post tried but couldn’t find another service to carry airmail from the islands, a spokesperson said. Queen Charlotte Mayor Carol Kulesha doesn’t think the corporation tried hard enough. The islands are different than other communities like Fort St. John and Cranbrook, who have also lost airmail service she says. These communities have a road that leads within a few hours to a major centre. The Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii is cut off by a six-hour ferry ride and hundreds of kilometers of highway before hitting a city.

Heather Ramsay is a Tyee contributing editor based in Queen Charlotte City.