Canada Post operations shut down effective Nov. 15 due to a national strike by postal workers. Canada Post continues to post updates on the strike and negotiations on its website. This means Canada Post mail will not be processed, which may have an impact on St. Catharines residents, suppliers and customers.
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 alternative arrangements for some of these services to minimize the impact to residents and to ensure the business of the City can continue.
It is important to note, property owners and residents are still responsible for on-time property tax and water payments, by their due date. Regular penalties will apply for late payments. Phone Citizens First at 905.688.5600 if you need to know your account balance for water or taxes. Failure to receive a tax notice does not excuse the responsibility for payment.
Consider registering for e-bills, and in-person or online payment methods, including those available on the City's website, or through your own financial institution. The City also offers pre-authorized payment plans for taxes and water.
E-BILLING CONTESTS!
Sign up for water e-billing for a chance to win one of 4, $250 Niagara Pen Centre gift cards!
Property owners who register for water e-billing until Dec. 20, 2024, will be automatically entered into the first contest to win one of two, $250 Pen Centre gift cards. Property owners who register for e-billing between Dec. 21, 2024, and Jan. 20, 2025, will be automatically entered into the second contest to win one of two, $250 Pen Centre gift cards.
Register for e-billing - the simple, secure, and convenient way to manage your water bills!
WATER BILL HAND DELIVERY
The City is hand delivering water bills for the duration of the postal disruption.
Water bills for properties in Section C and Section D (which encompasses portions of Merritton and downtown) were delivered by Friday, Nov. 29.
Section E and Section F properties will receive hand delivery of their water bills between Dec. 9 and Dec. 13, 2024.
Section E and Section F includes properties from north of the QEW to Scott Street, and between Welland Canals Parkway and Lake Street, with Section F being mostly around the Port Weller area (Scott Street to the lake between Read Road and Vine Street).
Section E and F water bill payments are due by Jan. 6, 2025.
Check a past water bill to learn your section. Your section letter appears in the top right corner of your water bill below your account number.
| Online Services |
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| Correspondence |
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During the 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. Time-sensitive information can be delivered to the City in person to Citizens First (second floor 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. Documents or payments that need to be submitted to the City should NOT be put in the mail during the labour disruption. |
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Public Notices |
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Committee of Adjustment Public Notices can be viewed on our Public Notices page. |
| Taxes |
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Final property tax notices were mailed June 17, and 2025 interim notices will not be mailed until next February. The final installment of 2024 property taxes was due Sept. 27 however, anyone who has received a supplemental bill may still have due dates of Nov. 29 or Dec. 31. We are advising residents not to mail their property tax payments. Property tax payments may be made online at Online Payments - St. Catharines. Any reminder notices for late payments will not be mailed during the strike. See our website for additional information on property taxes and payments. |
| Water |
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During the Canada Post strike, water bills will be hand delivered by a third-party contractor. Residents can phone Citizens First at 905.688.5600 to check their account balance. Water billings scheduled for Nov. 15, have already been placed in the mail. See our website for additional information on paying your water bill, including a link to pay your bill online. Most of the City’s meter readings are collected through our automated meter reading system and do not require water meter reading cards. Those accounts that receive water meter reading cards will not be mailed during the Canada Post strike. A reading may be entered through our website by visiting www.stcatharines.ca/Water. Estimated readings will be used to generate water bills instead of actual meter readings. |
| Parking |
Parking tickets can be paid in one of three ways:
Please note, not receiving an overdue notice does not relieve the defendant of their responsibility to pay the original parking ticket during the prescribed time period. |
| Suppliers |
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The City of St. Catharines urges suppliers to enroll in Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), the preferred payment method. EFT ensures secure, timely payments and avoids delays associated with mailing cheques. Suppliers who are not yet enrolled in EFT may experience delays in receiving cheque payments. For those who cannot transition to EFT, cheques will be available for pickup at City Hall, 50 Church St. During the Canada Post strike, cheque payments will be held for pickup until postal services resume. Invoices, account statements, and inquiries can be sent via email to accountspayable@stcatharines.ca. For EFT assistance, please contact our Suppliers team at suppliers@stcatharines.ca |
| Licensing |
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Dog Licences: Residents can continue to order dog licences online at www.stcatharines.ca/DocuPet. However, DocuPet will not be able to mail dog licences directly to residents during the Canada Post strike. Instead, DocuPet will courier dog licences to the City, and residents will be able to collect their dog licences from the Citizens First Counter (second floor City Hall). Digital copies of your dog licence can be accessed by logging into your DocuPet account. Business Licences: We will be unable to mail business licences during the strike; however, business licences can be picked up at the Office of the City Clerk (third floor City Hall) or we can email your business licence to you. Payment for business licenses can be made using Visa or MasterCard through our online service provider, over the phone by credit card, in person at the Planning and Building Counter, or left in the after-hours drop box on James Street. DO NOT put cash in the drop box. |
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Building Permits |
| Building Permits: Building permits will not be mailed during the strike however, they will be available to be picked up at the Planning and Building Counter (first floor City Hall). Applications for new building permits can be submitted in person or online by visiting www.stcatharines.ca/BuildingPermit. |
| Canada Post Strike FAQ |
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Will the strike affect the mailing of my property tax bill? No. Final property tax notices were mailed June 7, 2024. Interim property tax notices will be mailed early February 2025. The City of St. Catharines offers the option for residents 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.
Can I still mail my property tax payment? The final installment of 2024 property taxes was due Sept. 27, however, anyone who has received a supplemental bill may still have due dates of Nov. 29 or Dec. 31. We are advising residents not to mail their property tax payments.
I usually mail a cheque to pay my taxes / water bill. What are my other options? 1. In person at City Hall. Payments can be made by cheque, cash, or debit. Credit cards may be used at the self-service kiosk next to Citizens First. Convenience fees apply. Payments can be made at the Citizens First Counter (second floor City Hall), Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 2. Payments by cheque can be placed in the after-hours drop box located at the James Street entrance of City Hall. DO NOT place cash in the drop box. *Please note: cheques must be made payable to the City of St. Catharines. 3. Pre-authorized payment Plans (PAP): The City offers three Property Tax PAP plans; the Monthly Plan – 10 months, the Monthly Plan – 12 months and the Instalment Plan. To learn more or sign up, please visit stcatharines.ca/PAPTaxForm. The City also offers two Water PAP plans; the Per Bill and the Monthly Plan. To learn more or sign up, please visit stcatharines.ca/PAPWaterForm. 4. Online: The City now offers payments using Visa or MasterCard through our online service provider, Paymentus. A convenience fee applies for credit card transactions. To learn more or make a payment please visit stcatharines.ca/PayOnline 5. In person at most financial institutions. 6. Online with most financial institutions. Check with your financial institution to see if they offer online payments. Search using terms like “water,” “taxes” or “Cath” when prompted to select a payee. Your full 19-digit roll number or five-digit water account number is required.
Can I put my cheque in the mail and wait for the strike to be over? No. Documents or payments that need to be submitted to the City should NOT be put in the mail during the labour disruption.
What if I’ve already put my cheque in the mail? Contact your financial institution and ask them to put a “Stop Payment” on the cheque. If you prefer to pay by cheque, you can do so in person at City Hall or leave a cheque in the James Street after-hours drop box.
When will I receive my Property Tax Pre-authorized Payment Plan (PAP) notice providing me with a schedule of my withdrawal amounts for January to June 2025?
Property tax PAP notices will be mailed after the strike has ended. Residents and property owners signed up for either the 10-month or 12-month PAP will be provided an amount based on the previous year's taxes, which will then be adjusted either July to October or July to December based on our final billing. Residents and property owners can learn their monthly billing amounts by calling or emailing Citizens First at 905.688.5600 and citizensfirst@stcatharines.ca or emailing taxes@stcatharines.ca.
Will the strike affect the mailing of my water bill? Our next water bill was scheduled for mailing on Nov. 15, 2024, and has already been placed in the mail. During the Canada Post strike, water bills will be hand delivered. The City of St. Catharines offers the option for residents 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. Residents can phone Citizens First at 905.688.5600 to check their account balance.
Who is delivering water bills during the postal strike? The City is working with a third-party contractor to hand deliver water bills.
How will I submit a water meter reading? Most of the City’s meter readings are collected through our automated meter reading system and do not require water meter reading cards. Those accounts that receive water meter reading cards, the cards will not be mailed during the Canada Post strike. A reading may be entered through our website by visiting stcatharines.ca/Water. Estimated readings will be used to generate water bills for accounts where water meter reading cards are normally mailed, and no reading has been provided.
Will the strike affect the mailing of late notices for property taxes? Reminder notices will not be mailed during the strike.
I didn’t get my water or property tax bill. Does that mean I don’t have to pay it? No. Property owners and residents are still responsible for on-time payment of their water and taxes. Regular penalties will apply for late payments. Phone Citizens First at 905.688.5600 if you need to know your account balance for water or taxes. Failure to receive a tax notice does not excuse the responsibility for payment.
How can I submit my tender package for the upcoming Tax Sale Nov. 28? You can submit your tender package in person or by courier. Tender packages can be brought to the Citizens First Counter (second floor City Hall). Your tender must be received by 3 p.m. Nov. 28. If your tender is received late, it will be rejected. If it is sent by mail, there is no guarantee we will receive your tender on time. For more information regarding the tender process please visit stcatharines.ca/TenderPackage.
How will public notices and time-sensitive correspondences be delivered? Public notices and correspondences required by legislation will be delivered by hand or sent via courier.
How can I pay my parking ticket? Parking tickets can be paid in one of three ways:
Note: Not receiving an overdue notice does not relieve the defendant of their responsibility to pay the original parking ticket during the prescribed time period.
What services can I do through the City’s website?
As a supplier, how will I get payment from the City if you can’t mail me a cheque? Suppliers seeking payment are encouraged to register online by visiting stcatharines.ca/Supplier and to enroll in the Electronic Funds Transfer program. Expect delays in payment if your payment method is cheque. Cheques will be available for pick up at City Hall for suppliers who are unable to sign up for electronic funds transfer.
Suppliers who are not yet enrolled in EFT may experience delays in receiving cheque payments. For those who cannot transition to EFT, cheques will be available for pickup at City Hall, 50 Church St. During the Canada Post strike, cheque payments will be held for pickup until postal services resume. Invoices, account statements, and inquiries can be sent via email to accountspayable@stcatharines.ca. For EFT assistance, please contact our Suppliers team at suppliers@stcatharines.ca
Will you be able to mail me my building permit? Building permits will not be mailed during the strike, however, they will be available to be picked up at the Planning and Building Counter (first floor City Hall). Applications for new building permits can be submitted in person or online by visiting stcatharines.ca/BuildingPermit
Will you be able to get me my business licence? We will be unable to mail business licences during the strike however, business licences can be picked up at the Planning and Building Counter (first floor City Hall) or we can email your business licence to you.
Payments for business licenses can be made using Visa or MasterCard through our online service provider, over the phone by credit card, in person at the Planning and Building Counter, or left in the after-hours drop box on James Street. DO NOT put cash in the drop box.
How will I get my dog licence? Residents can continue to order dog licences online at stcatharines.ca/DocuPet. However, DocuPet will not be able to mail dog licences directly to residents during the Canada Post strike. Instead, DocuPet will courier dog licences to the City, and residents will be able to collect their dog licences from the Citizens First Counter (second floor City Hall). Digital copies of your dog licence can be accessed by logging into your DocuPet account.
I usually mail my bingo report. How can I get it to the City Clerk? Bingo reports can be dropped off at the Office of the City Clerk or left in the afterhours drop box on James Street.
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