The Canadian government expects to issue nearly 4.3 million passports this year, 2 million more than usual. One of the reasons for this increase is the expiry of the first 10 years of passports.
Everyone remembers the endless queues in front of passport offices last summer.
Service Canada assures that processing times have been restored, but the agency expects an increase due to the first passports valid for 10 years starting to be issued in 2013.
Conservative MP for Mégantic-L’Érable Luc Bertholdt is urging those planning to travel this summer to apply now to avoid the confusion of last summer.
“I’m not saying Service Canada isn’t fixing the situation […] But we want to be visionary and advise people not to wait,” said Bertholdt Register.
The catchup is complete
“As they say: ‘a scalded cat fears cold water’. We hope that citizens will not have to recover a situation like last year. »
“While complying with procedures and required deadlines, I have citizens who have received their passports hours before their departure,” he added.
“With what we know in the past, we have a right to be afraid,” the MP continued.
Seeking reassurance, Families, Children and Community Development Minister Karina Gould said efforts will be maintained to meet improved service standards in recent months.
Before the epidemic
According to him, the processing of applications has resumed the rhythm used before the pandemic.
Thanks to the hiring of new staff, overtime and improved efficiency, most passports are issued on time in 95% to 98% of cases.
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