Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / PML / Back in the summer of 2022, long wait lines would intermittently occur when patrons would attempt to visit the Service Canada in downtown Chilliwack at Main and Wellington during a passport backlog at the federal agency. The Public Service Alliance of Canada has gone on strike effective today, meaning there will be limited passport renewal service available to Canadians.
By Mike Vanden Bosch
Federal public service workers' strike

MP Brad Vis outlines impact of federal strike on public services like passport renewals

Apr 19, 2023 | 1:39 PM

CHILLIWACK — Back in the summer of 2022, Chilliwack residents grew accustomed to somewhat long lines at the downtown Service Canada location due to substantial passport backlogs at the time.

In response to federal public sector job action announced earlier today, MP Brad Vis, representing Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon including Agassiz and Harrison Hot Springs, says Canadians should expect some service reductions now that federal workers from the Public Service Alliance of Canada have gone on strike as of this morning.

Chilliwack-Hope MP Mark Strahl has not posted anything on Facebook about the federal public workers’ strike and its impact on public services.

In his Facebook post Wednesday (Apr. 19), Vis says his office experiences the highest volume of inquiries related to CRA, passports, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. He outlined the following impacts:

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CRA: There will be delays in processing some income tax and benefit returns, particularly those filed by paper and increased wait times at contact centres. More information can be found here: https://www.canada.ca/…/coll…/labour-disruptions.html…

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Passports: Domestic passport applications for emergency and humanitarian situation will be processed and services will only be available at specialized passport sites. More information can be found here: https://www.canada.ca/…/services/canadian-passports.html

IRCC: Some IRCC services remain available during the labour disruption. You can still apply online, mail applications to IRCC, use your online accounts and access some emergency services. You should expect even further delays than usual. More information can be found here: https://www.canada.ca/…/immigra…/labour-disruptions.html.

by Mike Vanden Bosch

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