Ottawa – Alex Atamanenko, MP for B.C. Southern Interior says he welcomes the federal government’s announcement last week that within two years a Passport Canada satellite office will open in Kelowna to serve citizens with a full range of passport services, except next-day service. Forty-eight hour service will be available, with proof of travel within thirty days.
“What is needed now is a Passport Canada Receiving Agent to serve the West Kootenay/ Boundary areas through Service Canada,” he said.
“The Kelowna Passport Office will be welcomed by residents in the Okanagan and from across B.C.’s southern interior,” said Atamanenko. “The work of my riding office staff, my MP colleagues in the Okanagan, and most importantly, the petitions, letters and phone calls from the people of BC’s southern interior have finally moved the Conservative government to make this promise.”
“It is long overdue, and I hope that it will open sooner than later in that two-year time line,” he added.
“But it still means a four to six hour drive for many West Kootenay-Boundary residents to reach Kelowna to get any Passport Canada service. While this is better than the eight to nine hours to drive to Surrey or Vancouver or Calgary, I believe there is enough of a demand in the West Kootenay/Boundary area to warrant the same level of passport application and review service that Cranbrook now has.” Cranbrook is still a three to five hour drive from the West Kootenay /Boundary area of Atamanenko’s riding
A Receiving Agent with Passport Canada can assist applicants by answering passport questions, providing paperwork and forms, and reviewing applications and supporting documentation and photos, for any mistakes.
“The need is real. My Riding staff has helped over 1000 problem files, directly assisted over 1000 applicants, and helped about 3,500 applicants through Passport Clinics – while answering thousands more passport questions on the phone each year. It is time for Passport Canada to assume some responsibility in the West Kootenay-Boundary area,” said Atamanenko.
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 3.1 million in 2005-2006.
Atamanenko reminded constituents that the US requires Canadians entering the United States by land and sea to present a government-issued photo ID AND a birth certificate or a citizenship card; OR for persons aged 18 and under, a birth certificate only; OR a valid Canadian passport. Requirements for a Canadian passport for U.S. land and sea entry have been pushed back to June 2009 at the earliest.
Tags: passports