New passport services available in the Sault
As a backlog in processing passport applications continues, the federal government is adding new passport service locations across Canada.
Starting Aug. 17 people can apply for and pick up their passports at Sault Ste. Marie’s Service Canada office on Bay Street.
Karina Gould, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, made an announcement Wednesday that people can now pick up passports in person at four additional locations across Canada, including the Sault.
In addition to the existing passport offices offering pick-up service, Canadians can now both apply and request in-person pick-up of their passport at Service Canada Centres in the Sault, Red Deer, Alta., Trois-Rivieres, Que. and Charlottetown, P.E.I. Unlike the regular Service Canada Centres, these locations now offer 10-day service, which means that individuals can apply for a passport in one of the four locations and the passport will be available after 10 business days, either through in person pick-up or by mail.
Proof of upcoming travel is also required to get service within 45 days at offices with 10-day processing times, including those announced Wednesday.
There is an extra $20 fee to pick passports up in person.
“Service Canada is working tirelessly to identify and implement solutions that not only improve the speedy delivery of passports, but also improve the service experience for Canadians. We will continue to make our services more accessible for all Canadians,” said Gould in a news release.
About 1.1 million applications for renewed and new passports have been filed since April as Canadians have resumed travelling with pandemic restrictions loosened.
More than one-quarter of those hadn't yet been processed as of early this month.
For the week of August 8 to 14, Service Canada has issued 52,569 passports.
The expansion of pick-up sites will allow many Canadians who need to pick up passports to do so closer to their homes.
Service Canada has committed to providing passport services within 50km of the home of Canadians.
In response to demand, Service Canada added five new locations for passport services in late July; though none were in the north.
The agency also ramped up staffing levels, reporting 1,936 employees in its passport workforce in early August, up more than 150 from the month prior.
Gould told CTV News she is working on bringing passport services to additional offices and hopes to make more announcements soon.
For a full listing of services available from at the Sault Ste. Marie Service Canada Centre visit the Government of Canada's website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.