Federal Minister Says Expect Delays at Passport Offices

Tuesday, 2 May 2023 16:35

By Linda Morgan

Delays expected at passport offices due to 12-day strike

As striking federal public service workers return to work, expect long lineups at passport and Service Canada offices.

Families Minister Karina Gould says this week, Canadians can expect longer lineups, since applications didn't come in for two weeks.

During the strike, only passport applications that met criteria on humanitarian grounds or emergency situations were processed.

Gould also notes passport applications will be prioritized based on date of travel.

However, she acknowledges the job action didn't create a major backlog.

Meanwhile, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser says about 100,000 immigration cases were not processed during the strike.

He notes the strike means it will take longer to return to pre-pandemic service standards, especially due to the backlog of applications.

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