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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 78

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 31, 2022 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 78 - May/31/22
Hon. Karina Gould (Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Lib.)
  • May/31/22 2:49:34 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we have acknowledged from the beginning that this is a challenge. These volumes are unprecedented. There are passports that are up for renewal this year, as well as from the past two years, plus additional passports for people who have never requested them before. Unlike the Conservatives, if constituents have a challenge and need support for an urgent passport, they should please contact their MP so that we can ensure they get the help they need, particularly when travel is urgent. I am sure all members in this House would like to help those urgent cases get their passport.
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Context: House Hansard - 78 - May/31/22
Hon. Karina Gould (Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Lib.)
  • May/31/22 2:50:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, let me just clarify it for the member. When one reads the website, it is 10-day processing for in-person services at a specialized passport office, and 96% of applicants are getting their passports within less than 10 days when they go to a specialized passport office. The challenge is in the mail system. As I have explained to this House before, prepandemic 80% of applications happened in person. Now it is the reverse. We are working hard to address this issue, and we will continue to do everything we can to make this process as smooth as possible.
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Context: House Hansard - 78 - May/31/22
Mr. Garnett Genuis (Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, CPC)
  • May/31/22 2:51:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is quite out of touch for the minister to suggest that people should just wait in line in these overnight lines to get their passports. I spoke to Janna in my riding, who has two children under five. She cannot bring them with her to wait overnight in line. She applied in March, and her credit card was charged on April 20. She had to cancel a trip that was supposed to take place on June 13, and she still has not received her passport. She has re-booked for the end of June and she is still waiting. She cannot get a response. What is the minister prepared to do to help Janna and those like her get their passports and not have to cancel their trips a second time?
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Context: House Hansard - 78 - May/31/22
Mr. Bernard Généreux (Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, CPC)
  • May/31/22 2:52:43 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the wait times for passports are absolutely ludicrous. The situation is out of control. Last week, people went to passport offices with their lawn chairs. People do not want to vacation at passport offices. They want to go on vacation somewhere in Canada or somewhere else in the world. The solution is very simple. All we need to do is get staff into the passport offices. What is the government waiting for to get people working in the passport offices again?
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