National

Canada's passport backlog 'completely eliminated'

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 Mar, 2023 11:02 AM

OTTAWA - Families Minister Karina Gould announced today that the federal government has now "completely eliminated" the backlog of passport applications that caused major delays — and major political strife — last year.

Tune in for an important update on Passport Service Delivery ⬇️

//

Suivez-nous pour une mise à jour importante sur la prestation de services des passeports ⬇️https://t.co/k507xrGUWL https://t.co/GBGWujj7N5
— Karina Gould (@karinagould) March 21, 2023

She also announced that Ottawa is launching a new digital tool that will allow Canadians to check the status of their Service Canada application online, as long as they provide an email address.

The update comes after Gould said in late January that the backlog was "virtually eliminated," with the exception of some complex cases held back for reasons such as child-custody issues.

The pandemic had caused a nearly two-year lull in passport applications, but demand skyrocketed once people began travelling again, leading Service Canada to double the number of employees processing passports last year.

Gould told reporters today that she can guarantee that people who apply for passports will now get them on time, and she urged people whose passports expire in 2023 to get them renewed immediately.

The minister says there are plans in place in case another backlog occurs, but she did not offer details about what those plans are.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Canada's new anti-Islamophobia rep says sorry

The column, co-written with former Canadian Jewish Congress CEO Bernie Farber, cited polling data to say that "a majority of Quebecers" who supported Bill 21 also held anti-Muslim views. Farber and Elghawaby, a journalist and human-rights activist, were board members with the Canadian Anti-Hate Network at the time.

Canada's new anti-Islamophobia rep says sorry

Alberta's former top doctor hired by B.C.

A statement from the Ministry of Health says Dr. Andrew Larder, who previously served as a medical health officer at both Fraser and Interior Health, joins Hinshaw, and will also be on temporary assignment over the next several months.

Alberta's former top doctor hired by B.C.

Drug users say the 'fight continues' in B.C.

The meeting at the office of the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) on the first day of the new policy began with a man handing out "know your rights" cards. They say people aged 18 and over carrying up to 2.5 grams of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA, or ecstasy, for their own use will not have those drugs confiscated.

Drug users say the 'fight continues' in B.C.

Vancouver home sales to remain flat, forecast says

While the current downturn has resulted in a price decline of about 10 per cent, the forecast says steady population growth in Metro Vancouver will underpin prices and maintain or even increase values. It says the average home price this year for apartments, attached and detached homes is expected to climb slightly to $1.2 million, a 1.4 per cent increase.

Vancouver home sales to remain flat, forecast says

U.S. launches Round 2 in dairy dispute with Canada

U.S. trade officials and dairy industry advocates say a large share of those quotas were being allocated to processors rather than producers. The U.S. says the federal government amended its policies, but that the new procedures remain "inconsistent" with the terms of the agreement, known as USMCA in the U.S. and CUSMA in Canada.

U.S. launches Round 2 in dairy dispute with Canada

Lower mainland residents wake up to snow on Tuesday morning

Snow created slick conditions on the roads and caused delays for commuters in traffic. There were also crashes on many routes of Vancouver and South of the Fraser. Cars got stuck up the hill and there were major delays in transit throughout the day.