SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 91

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 17, 2022 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 91 - Jun/17/22
Ms. Ya'ara Saks (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Lib.)
  • Jun/17/22 11:22:42 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, as the hon. member and many Canadians know, after two years of travel restrictions in this pandemic there is an unprecedented backlog of applications both in Canada and around the world. This has led to delays in processing and issuance, but the minister has been adamant with the department to address the situation and improve service and we continue to do so on a day-to-day basis because the situation is not acceptable. Canadians need their documents. We will keep Canadians informed about additional measures as we take them, and encourage people to plan ahead to ensure they have passports planned before booking. I would like to also emphasize that those who—
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Context: House Hansard - 91 - Jun/17/22
Ms. Ya'ara Saks (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Lib.)
  • Jun/17/22 11:24:01 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I would like to be clear that those clients and Canadians who need to travel for humanitarian reasons or other compassionate purposes, such as critical illness or other emergencies including the death of another person, can obtain a passport within two business days with proof of travel or need. This standard is being pressed upon and upheld from coast to coast to coast at every Passport Canada counter across the country.
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Context: House Hansard - 91 - Jun/17/22
Ms. Ya'ara Saks (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Lib.)
  • Jun/17/22 11:45:20 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, since December, Service Canada and our passport agents have been preparing for what we have now. The surge is unprecedented, and we continue to work through the process. Just as an example, 600 new employees have been hired and are on the job. Another 600 employees are in the process of being put into place. Every counter across this country is open. We know there are long lines, and that is why Service Canada agents are going through those lines, checking passports and travel plans and making sure that seniors, those who have children and those who have work times are being accommodated within two business days for immediate travel.
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Context: House Hansard - 91 - Jun/17/22
Ms. Ya'ara Saks (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Lib.)
  • Jun/17/22 11:46:37 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, as I mentioned before, additional processing facilities have been opened and initial staff have been hired, but this is not unprecedented, just here in Canada. It is around the world. Wait times in countries like Australia, the U.K. and elsewhere are anywhere between nine and 11 weeks for expedited passports. Here, we are meeting the challenge for Canadians, both in the lines and in our application process, to make sure that those who have immediate travel needs are being addressed so they can get on their way.
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Context: House Hansard - 91 - Jun/17/22
Ms. Ya'ara Saks (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Lib.)
  • Jun/17/22 11:47:52 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, after two years of travel restrictions, the surge is unprecedented. We know Canadians are frustrated. We know case workers are frustrated, which is why we are doing everything we can. The minister continues to work with officials to look at every opportunity to improve processing times, whether it is by phone, in person or every other application process that we can do. We continue to work with our colleagues across the way if there are immediate needs. Some have already reached out to me, and we continue to collaborate.
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