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

B.C. unveils new housing permit process

A single application process is being created, and Eby says permit and authorization decisions will be expedited through a cross-ministry team focused solely on processing housing permits. He says 42 new full-time staff will be hired to identify the highest-priority housing and will steer those through the process quickly and efficiently.

B.C. unveils new housing permit process

B.C. tenants ordered to pay $500,000 after fire

Chou and her former partner Danny Chen, who was not living there but was still listed as a tenant, have been ordered to pay the Langara Gardens apartment building more than $512,000 for damages caused by the fire. The fire spread to other apartments, and the court ruled Chou will also pay $56,000 to Langara Gardens for the rent lost while 10 units were repaired.

B.C. tenants ordered to pay $500,000 after fire

Delta Police need the public's help in locating high risk woman Nev Bains

A 54-year-old woman, Nev Bains, was last seen at her North Delta home that morning. Nev’s car has been located in the Bridgeview area of Surrey. Nev is described as 5’3” tall, approximately 140 lbs, with medium-length black hair.

Delta Police need the public's help in locating high risk woman Nev Bains

One person dead following a crash at 152nd St and Guildford Dr in Surrey on a Sunday

In the early morning hours on Sunday, at 5:04am, Surrey RCMP responded to the report of a two vehicle collision at the intersection of 152 St and Guilford Dr. Sadly one of the occupants died at the scene.

One person dead following a crash at 152nd St and Guildford Dr in Surrey on a Sunday

Vancouver council mulls $2M support for Chinatown

The plan stems from a council resolution passed in November that would help clean up Chinatown's streets, alleys and sidewalks, remove litter and needles, halt any new graffiti, remove old tags and address vandalism and other problems. Costs are pegged at just over $2.1 million this year.

Vancouver council mulls $2M support for Chinatown

Federal workers back to the office starting today

The return to work comes at a fraught time for public transit in the national capital region, where the federal government has a majority of its offices. An ice storm that hit Ottawa on Jan. 4 caused the city's light rail transit system to partially shut down for six days.