44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 21, 2022 10:00AM
- Jun/21/22 2:24:45 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we know that this is a difficult, stressful and completely unacceptable situation. Canadians have started travelling again and we are seeing an increase in the number of passport applications.
We have created new centres to increase processing capacity. We have hired 600 new employees and will be hiring 600 more. We created a new online appointment tool and we will continue to work night and day to get more passports out to Canadians. We recognize that this is a problem and we will fix it.
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- Jun/21/22 2:25:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we have been getting the same answer for three weeks, yet absolutely nothing has been done. Canada normally processed 90,000 passports a week before COVID‑19. Now it cannot manage to process 48,000 a week. What is the problem?
Everything this Prime Minister touches goes wrong. All he has to say in response to the passport issue are the same talking points he was giving us two or three weeks ago. The Prime Minister has never had to line up for a passport. He does not need to wait when he returns to the country from a vacation.
Why is he okay with making all Canadians wait?
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- Jun/21/22 2:26:00 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we are doing everything we can to ensure that Canadians can get their passport on time.
We have issued more than 360,000 passports since April 1. Fully 100% of passport office counters are open. Employees continue to work overtime every day and on weekends to process applications and we are getting help from staff at Employment and Social Development Canada on the weekends.
We will continue to do everything necessary to resolve this situation for Canadians.
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- Jun/21/22 2:27:13 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we understand that there has been a surge of passport renewal applications since travel restrictions were lifted, which is why Passport Canada staff have been working day and night to issue passports to Canadians.
We understand that people are facing unacceptable delays and an extremely difficult situation, but we are continuing our work every day to resolve this situation, and we will resolve it.
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- Jun/21/22 2:39:27 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the situation at passport offices is getting out of hand. According to TVA, at the end of the ordeal, the lucky ones who do get their passports at Guy-Favreau complex in Montreal are still being charged extra fees. Despite the minister's instructions today, people are being charged $110. Despite the minister's instructions, the federal government is making Quebeckers and Canadians pay for its mistake. The minister has no control over her department.
When will she finally ensure that people can get their passports without extra fees?
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- Jun/21/22 2:40:08 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, once again, I will tell my colleague that the instruction given to all Service Canada employees is that if passports are issued outside the standard service times, there is no additional charge. We will say it again. It is clear and the directive has been given across the country. We are going to make sure it is enforced on the ground.
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- Jun/21/22 2:43:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as I have mentioned several times in the House, we are experiencing an unprecedented volume in terms of passport applications. We have, in fact, been planning for this surge and that is why 600 employees were hired since January. Another 600 are in the process of being hired. We are rearranging and reallocating resources within Service Canada and also within other government departments. We understand the situation. We understand the frustration of Canadians, and we will continue to do everything that we can to support Canadians in getting their passports in a timely fashion.
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- Jun/21/22 2:45:10 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we are currently triaging people in line because of the unprecedented volume to ensure that people do not miss their flights. We have ensured that, when people get to the passport office, they are receiving their passports. The member opposite can certainly work with my office to support that constituent. I have been pleased to work with many members opposite to support their constituents and make sure that they can get their passports on time. We will continue to support them and Canadians as we go through this surge in volume to support Canadians with their passports.
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- Jun/21/22 2:46:36 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I understand Canadians' frustration. We are doing our best to fix this situation.
I have to correct my hon. colleague. All the employees who work on passports at Service Canada are in the office, and have been for months. When he talks about public servants working from home, they are working. They are the same public servants who got the Canada recovery benefit out to Canadians. In all, nine million Canadians received benefits thanks to the hard-working employees of Service Canada.
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