May 22, 2025 – The City of St. Catharines is taking steps to minimize any service
disruptions during a possible strike of Canada Post workers.
Canada Post has warned a postal disruption may occur as early as Friday, May 23,
unless agreements are reached before then. The City has been meeting to try and
minimize any disruptions and identify alternatives in the event of strike activity. While
the City’s modernization efforts, such as e-billing and online payments, have provided
additional tools to conduct City business online, there are still some services which rely
on the mail system. The City is working on alternate arrangements for some of these
services to minimize the impact to residents and to ensure the business of the City can
continue.
Taxes, Water and Parking
Property owners and residents are still responsible for on-time property tax, water, and
parking fine payments, by their due date. Regular penalties will apply for late payments.
Final property tax notices were mailed May 7. The next instalment of 2025 property
taxes is due June 30. We are advising residents not to mail their property tax payments.
In the event of a postal strike, water bills will be hand-delivered.
The City of St. Catharines offers residents and property owners the option to view their
property tax and water bill information online with paperless e-bills.
Visit stcatharines.ca/E-bills for more information or to register.
Property taxes, water bills and parking fines can be paid online using Visa or
MasterCard through the City’s provider, Paymentus, at stcatharines.ca/PayOnline.
Payment can also be made by cheque, cash, or debit, in-person at our Citizens First
counter on the second floor of City Hall, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Credit
cards may be used at the self-service kiosk next to Citizens First. Convenience fees
apply. Cheques can also be dropped in the after-hours drop box at City Hall, located at
the James Street entrance. Do not place cash in the drop box.
Alternatively, residents and property owners can set up a pre-authorized debit payment
plan with the City. Visit stcatharines.ca/PAPTaxForm for property taxes,
and stcatharines.ca/PAPWaterForm for water bill payments.
Property tax and water bill payments can also be made at most financial institutions.
Correspondence
During a postal disruption, the City will deliver public notices and time-sensitive
correspondence required by legislation by hand or by courier. Residents who are
expecting correspondence from the City that is not time-sensitive can look forward to
receiving it after any possible postal disruption has passed.
City of St. Catharines residents, suppliers and customers should avoid sending the City
time-sensitive information until after the possibility of a postal disruption has ended.
Time-sensitive information can be delivered in person to Citizens First on the second
floor at City Hall (50 Church St.) Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or sealed
in an envelope and dropped into the mail slot at the James Street entrance after hours.
Online Services
Recreational program registration, dog licensing, water meter reading, Report an
Issue, and building permit applications can be conducted, as per regular business
operations, on the City’s website.
Permits and Licences
Building permits and business licences will be available for pickup at the Planning
and Building counter, first floor of City Hall. Business licence payment can be made
online using Visa or MasterCard, over the phone by credit card, in-person at the
Planning and Building counter, or by cheque left in the after-hours drop box on James
Street. Do not put cash in the drop box.
Suppliers
The City of St. Catharines urges suppliers to enroll in Electronic Funds
Transfer (EFT), the preferred payment method. EFT ensures secure, timely payments.
For those suppliers who cannot transition to EFT, cheques will be available for pickup at
City Hall, 50 Church St. Invoices, account statements, and inquires can be sent via
email to accountspayable@stcatharines.ca. For EFT enrolment assistance, please
contact our Suppliers team at suppliers@stcatharines.ca.
For more information on what you need to know in the event of a Canada Post strike,
visit stcatharines.ca/CanadaPostStrikeFAQ