Thursday, July 9, 2026
    ADVT 
    National

    Canada's passport backlog 'completely eliminated'

    Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 Mar, 2023 11:02 AM
    • Canada's passport backlog 'completely eliminated'

    OTTAWA - Families Minister Karina Gould announced today that the federal government has now "completely eliminated" the backlog of passport applications that caused major delays — and major political strife — last year.

    She also announced that Ottawa is launching a new digital tool that will allow Canadians to check the status of their Service Canada application online, as long as they provide an email address.

    The update comes after Gould said in late January that the backlog was "virtually eliminated," with the exception of some complex cases held back for reasons such as child-custody issues.

    The pandemic had caused a nearly two-year lull in passport applications, but demand skyrocketed once people began travelling again, leading Service Canada to double the number of employees processing passports last year.

    Gould told reporters today that she can guarantee that people who apply for passports will now get them on time, and she urged people whose passports expire in 2023 to get them renewed immediately.

    The minister says there are plans in place in case another backlog occurs, but she did not offer details about what those plans are.

    Prev Next

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Federal election cost an estimated $630 million

    Federal election cost an estimated $630 million
    The official report on last September's election outlined multiple obstacles those running the election had to overcome because of COVID-19, including finding people to staff polling stations.    

    Federal election cost an estimated $630 million

    Freeland hints budget focus on economic growth

    Freeland hints budget focus on economic growth
    Freeland laid out the broad strokes of the spending plan as she launched the government's pre-budget consultations that will run until late February.

    Freeland hints budget focus on economic growth

    B.C. deputy clerk told trust payment advice: trial

    B.C. deputy clerk told trust payment advice: trial
    The $258,000 retirement allowance that her then-boss, former clerk Craig James, received in 2012 is the largest among several payments that are subject to criminal allegations of misspending that James denies.

    B.C. deputy clerk told trust payment advice: trial

    No cause yet for Vancouver fire that killed three

    No cause yet for Vancouver fire that killed three
    Assistant Chief Brian Bertuzzi confirmed a child under 10 years old, their mother and grandfather were killed, while the grandmother and father suffered smoke inhalation.

    No cause yet for Vancouver fire that killed three

    Moderna announces full US approval for its COVID-19 vaccine

    Moderna announces full US approval for its COVID-19 vaccine
    The decision was bolstered by real-world evidence from the more than 200 million doses administered in the U.S. since the FDA cleared the shot in December 2020. The FDA granted full approval of Pfizer’s vaccine last August.

    Moderna announces full US approval for its COVID-19 vaccine

    Ottawa protests aren't 'peaceful': critics

    Ottawa protests aren't 'peaceful': critics
    For two days, the downtown core of the nation's capital has been a no-go zone as trucks and crowds have snarled traffic, with some members defacing monuments and wielding signs with violent and hateful imagery. Police are also investigating what they describe as threatening behaviour toward officers, city workers and other individuals, as well as damage to a city vehicle.

    Ottawa protests aren't 'peaceful': critics

    PrevNext