RPD updates ePost Connect Practice Notice

Today, June 24, 2020, the RPD issued an updated Practice Notice on the use of ePost: “Refugee Protection Division Practice Notice: Exchange of documents through Canada Post epost Connect“.

The key points are:

• This notice replaces the July 4, 2017 Practice Notice on ePost
• Document must be submitted as an attachment – nothing written in the text box will be accepted as a communication by the RPD
• 🚩 Do not use ePost for:
  • Scheduling inquiries
  • Sending documents to CBSA or IRCC (e.g. if Minister is intervening)
• ✅ Use ePost for:
  • Any document you are submitting to the RPD, including but not limited to:
    • RPD Forms
    • Applications
    • Disclosure
    • Submissions
  • Also use ePost where the Rules call for “originals”:
    “Where there is a requirement in the Division’s Rules for an original document to be provided, the Division will accept the filing of a copy through epost Connect™. Parties must keep the original until their proceeding has been finalized and at least 30 days after all appeal periods have expired.”

The real change is that ePost will now be used by the RPD to send documents:

Once a party has successfully registered for epost Connect™, the RPD will consider their epost Connect™ address to fall within the definition of “contact information” in the RPD Rules.  The RPD may use epost Connect™ or the party’s other contact information to provide documents. How a document will be provided is at the discretion of the Division. e​post Connect™ will only be used to provide documents classified as Protected B or lower.

If you previously signed up to send documents by epost Connect™ but do not wish to receive​ documents in that manner, you can change your contact information by notifying the RPD in writing.

Instructions on how to register for and use ePost are contained in the Practice Notice.