Frustration grows with long waits at Ottawa's passport office

Passports for travelers who want to take advantage of the summer travel season Delay and backlog to get. Metropolitan Service Some people wait in line for up to 6 hours at their Canadian office.

As of Wednesday at 2:00 pm, the Ottawa Passport office at Meadowlands Drive had a line of about 50 people, many of whom brought folding chairs and cushions. ..

According to the Service Canada website, the estimated wait time was 4 hours and 15 minutes.

"The line is very stagnant and looks like molasses," says Hugh Phillips, who has been waiting in line since 10 am and wants to visit a Jamaican family. I did.

Canadian international travelers have experienced severe backlogs and waiting times in recent months and choose to camp overnight to line up before the passport office opens. There are many people and the tension is increasing.

Omowumi Olowe waits in line for more than two hours on Wednesday, the day after her husband. I did. He couldn't get a passport because his office was closed while he was still in line.

"I know I'll get a passport, but back and forth ... I'm exhausted. The queue has probably moved three times since I got here." Olowe said.

"People have been doing this every day since they lifted the restrictions (COVID-19 travel), so we really need to implement a better system."

Yolanda Stevens lined up from Renfrew to Ottawa. She tried to get a passport another day, but at the Service Canada office she did, there was a problem with the printing system.

"When you're at work, you can't always take off, but that's what you have to do," Stevens said.

In her email statement, the Canadian Ministry of Employment and Social Development said it recognized that increased demand for passports resulted in longer-than-usual service backups and wait times. I did.

The statement also states that the department has hired 600 additional staff and is working to simplify the process of renewing adult passports issued over the last 15 years. rice field.

However, in many cases, wait time is only part of the problem. Inconsistent rules and services Some say that lack of communication from Canada is increasing their frustration.

Susie Pearson visited the Service Canada office in April with her daughter and her I got my son's passport. She said she arrived at the office at 3:30 am for them to line up.

Her 16-year-old son was almost turned away because he didn't have a driver's license. Her son used his report card as an ID card to get a passport, but she said that others in the line were rejected for the same reason.

"With this incredible backlog, efficiency needs to match the situation," Pearson said.

Michael Lowe is trying to get his granddaughter's passport from December. He said he had to call Service Canada six times and wait at least three hours before talking to the person on the phone.

His granddaughter studied abroad in Ireland on July 4, and she wants to earn 12th grade credits.

"The whole situation is questioning travel. It was terrible," Rowe said. "She couldn't celebrate or be happy, and it was just very disappointing."

Rowe sent a letter to Ottawa-Vanier MP Mona Fortier from Service Canada. He said he outlined his frustration with lack of contact and urgency.

"This is what you have to do. It's crazy," Rowe said.

"I'm retired, so I can handle it, but if people are working, they couldn't do this."

Canadian History There is also a passport office at 210 Champlan Street in Gatineau, not far from the museum.