Charities in B.C. are praising the federal government’s proposed move to extend the deadline to claim charitable donations on Canadians’ 2024 tax returns an extra two months, to the end of February.

The feds say the move, announced on Monday, is aimed at mitigating the impact of the month-long Canada Post strike.

Charities say they saw a significant decline in donations as a result of the job action, which halted postal service for over four weeks and prevented donors from sending cheques in by mail.

Now, with the feds’ announcement that they intend to extend the deadline, charities say they could look to recoup some of those lost funds at a time when demand for charitable services is higher than ever.

WATCH | Charities worry about impact of Canada Post strike: 

“We know that so many people in Canada through January and February are considering where they’re investing to reduce their taxes,” said Cindy Walker, philanthropy manager at Abbotsford’s Archway Community Services.

“To have an option, you know, to invest in … community and bettering the well-being of others is such an amazing opportunity for us to have.”

Walker said Archway Community Services, which runs a food bank in the Fraser Valley community, would normally receive around 40 per cent of its annual donations in November and December, about 80 per cent of which would arrive by mail.

This year, though, she said they saw about 25 per cent fewer donations in that period, due to the strike.

Nationally, the Salvation Army reported a decrease in holiday donations of more than 50 per cent.

It’s a worrisome drop as charities and food banks deal with rising demand, but Walker said they are optimistic that they’ll recoup some of those lost funds.

“We know that we are part of, you know, one of British Columbia’s most caring, giving communities.”

Nicole Danesi from online charity tracker CanadaHelps warns, however, that the proposed tax deadline extension is still subject to legislation being passed in the House of Commons.

While MPs are set to return on Jan. 27, it’s unclear how long the Liberal minority government will continue to have the confidence of the House, amid multiple proposed non-confidence motions from the NDP and Conservatives.

“A lot of charities actually think that this is a done deal and that’s not the case because this legislation really is just proposed at this point in time,” Danesi told CBC News.