SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 65

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 5, 2022 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 65 - May/5/22
Mrs. Laila Goodridge (Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, CPC)
  • May/5/22 3:02:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the government's failure to plan has prevented Canadians from being able to access basic government services. People cannot get through by phone or in person to Service Canada. In fact, the delays in passport processing have effectively ground Service Canada locations all across the country to a halt. It has become so dire that some people are charging upwards of $15 an hour to stand in line for people desperate to get an in-person appointment. The Harper government introduced a 10-year passport. Has the Liberal government decided to introduce a 10-year wait-list?
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Context: House Hansard - 65 - May/5/22
Hon. Karina Gould (Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Lib.)
  • May/5/22 3:03:39 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as I said before in the House, there is unprecedented demand when it comes to accessing passports. We have put a number of initiatives in place to help deal with this. We have a simplified process to replace expired passports. We have opened more client counters in passport offices. We have operated extended hours and used overtime in passport offices and processing and call centres. We have created three additional application processing centres, expanded passport intake in 303 Service Canada centres, hired 500 additional staff, continue to hire and train more and opened 12 offices over the weekend in the busiest centres around the country. We will continue to work really hard to ensure we are serving Canadians.
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Context: House Hansard - 65 - May/5/22
Mrs. Tracy Gray (Kelowna—Lake Country, CPC)
  • May/5/22 3:05:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, a constituent of mine from Kelowna—Lake Country did the right thing. She applied for a passport renewal in person at a passport office and was told by Service Canada staff that doing so two months before travelling was plenty of time. The passports never arrived and she will likely have to cancel her family trip at great cost and disappointment. Service Canada told MPs that it expects lengthy passport delays. This is another mess from the government. When will the minister provide clarity to my constituent and Canadians on passport processing?
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