For immediate release
Gatineau, Quebec, February 13, 2008 - The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today opened Passport Canada's new central operations facility and detailed plans to increase capacity in order to meet growing demand.
"Our government has delivered on its promise to improve Canada's passport services by reducing processing delays and making the system more convenient for Canadians," said Minister Bernier. "The opening of this new facility is another significant milestone given that it will more than double Passport Canada's capacity to process mail-in applications - it is an enormous achievement."
Passport demand in Canada has reached unprecedented levels since the United States began requiring a passport to enter the US by air in January 2007. For fiscal year 2007-2008, Passport Canada expects to issue 4.8 million passports, compared to 3.6 million in 2006-2007 and 3.1 million in 2005-2006.
"This is great news for the people of the Outaouais region. This larger facility has been purpose-designed to handle the volume of applications for Canadian passports," said Minister Cannon. "Passport Canada employees have responded with determination, commitment and ingenuity to the increased demand."
Over the past year, Passport Canada has undertaken a series of initiatives to modernize its services and simplify the passport application process. It launched the simplified passport renewal process, and simplified its guarantor policy. It also expanded its office in Richmond, British Columbia, and is currently expanding many others, including the offices located in Victoria, British Columbia and Windsor, Ontario. Furthermore, 67 new Service Canada Receiving Agent outlets across the country were opened to provide Canadians with greater access to passport services. There are now 191 service locations across Canada.
Canadians are reminded that since January 31, 2008, a new US law requires Canadians entering the United States by land and marine ports of entry to present:
a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's licence AND a birth certificate or a citizenship card; OR
for persons aged 18 and under, a birth certificate only; OR
a valid Canadian passport.
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