Backgrounder:
Service Canada - Prince Edward Island
September 23, 2005
(CHARLOTTETOWN, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND) - Residents of Prince Edward Island will have improved access to a range of federal government services with the launch of Service Canada points of service across the province. Shawn Murphy, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown made the announcement today on behalf of Belinda Stronach, Minister for Service Canada and Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development at an official opening of the Charlottetown Service Canada Centre at the Sherwood Shopping Centre. Also on hand for the launch was Member of Parliament for Malpeque, Wayne Easter.
"On the Island, we know our communities well, and we know many of our citizens on a first-name basis," said Mr. Murphy. "Our goal for serving them - and for all Canadians - is to provide better, one-stop, easy-to-access, personalized service to meet their individual needs wherever they may live."
The national launch of Service Canada means that all six offices across Prince Edward Island -- Charlottetown, Souris, Montague, Summerside, Wellington and O'Leary -- will offer better service to Islanders. The Service Canada workforce on the Island numbers more than 200 people, 30 of those providing front-line service. These staff have been specially trained to provide a knowledgeable first point of contact for the Government of Canada and support one-stop service delivery.
Service Canada integrates services from a number of federal departments to form an easy-to-access service delivery network. These services touch all aspects of the lives of Canadians, from parental and pension benefits, to matching employers with job seekers and obtaining a Social Insurance Number.
Today, this network brings together 320 points of service in communities throughout Canada; a national 1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232) telephone service providing Canadians with information about all federal government services; and a range of on-line services at servicecanada.gc.ca.
In 2006, Service Canada's points of service will double, reaching 1.25 million more Canadians. In Prince Edward Island, opportunities for further outreach to the Acadian and Francophone regions of the province are being explored. Service Canada will also work with the Aboriginal community to find ways to provide outreach services across the Island.
In greetings to Island launch participants, Minister Stronach re-affirmed the main goal of Service Canada. "Our service promise is simple and straight-forward: we will reach out to more Canadians in more communities across the country to deliver the kind of service that will make a real difference in their lives. We will keep our sights set on their needs, and we will make their service experience personal and respectful."
As part of this service commitment, Service Charter explains to Canadians what they can expect and how they can provide feedback. The Service Canada Office of Client Satisfaction has been established and will enable citizens to register suggestions, compliments or complaints, and will ensure the right follow-up.
Over the coming months, Canadians will continue to experience concrete improvements in service delivery. For more information about Service Canada and the services it provides today in Prince Edward Island and elsewhere across Canada, see the attached backgrounders.
For more information:
Shirley Pierce
Service Canada
(902) 566-7456
