Ottawa admitted on Monday that it was taken aback by the avalanche of passport applications on the eve of the summer holidays, while the mess persists in front of service centers.
“As is the case in many countries, the magnitude and sudden nature of this increase has created delays for Canadians wishing to obtain the passport services to which they are entitled,” said the Minister for Children, Family and Social Development, Karina Gould.
The federal minister indicates that Ottawa is examining several measures to allow passports to be issued more quickly, while Service Canada Center employees are working overtime and weekends.
“We are reviewing and implementing all possible options to expedite the intake and processing of applications to help Canadians obtain their passports in a timely manner, without compromising the integrity of the service,” said Ms. Gould. .
In addition, Service Canada has hired about 600 new employees, while 600 others are about to be hired, said Minister Gould, adding that other processing centers have been added across the country.
“We know that despite these efforts, processing times for passports remain long at present,” said Ms. Gould, adding that her administration is looking for the best way to solve the problem.
Despite the increased volume, Ottawa says 72% of Canadians who apply receive their passports within 40 business days; and 96% of Canadians who apply in person at a specialized office receive their passport within 10 days.
