Quebec’s minister responsible for relations with Canada is demanding the federal government find a solution to lengthy passport delays across the country.
Sonia LeBel issued the message on Twitter on Tuesday as people have been waiting in long lineups outside Service Canada offices to receive their travel documents. The situation has gone on for weeks.
“The situation experienced by many Quebecers in passport offices is deplorable,” LeBel wrote. “It’s insane to see people camping out to get a passport.”
Quebec is asking its federal counterpart to “quickly find a solution in order to process requests more adequately,” she added.
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Hundreds wait outside passport offices in Montreal as Service Canada deals with major backlog
The message comes as camping chairs, blankets and sleeping bags have all become a regular fixture at passport offices across the country since early June.
Service Canada reopened all passport service counters across the country last month as travel picks up again, and additional counters have been added at more than 300 centres.
The offices have seen a surge in demand for travel documents as COVID-19 measures ease and Canadians look to vacation in the summer.
The backlog has led the Canadian government to put passport renewal wait times online. Karina Gould, the federal minister responsible, said last week that her department is considering further changes to ease the delays.
“We are accelerating the process and we will always look at how we can do even more,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday.
— with files from Global News’ Aaron D’Andrea, Brayden Jagger Haines and The Canadian Press
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