Canada's New Government Increases Passport Receiving Agent Services in British Columbia

"Canada's New Government is working to improve the services we provide to Canadians," said Minister Emerson. "We are pleased that more passport receiving agent services are available here in British Columbia and other locations across Canada. We are continuing to add more receiving agent sites in British Columbia, which means more people will be able to apply for passports in person at the same place they go for other government services."

Service Canada sites will review passport applications to ensure accuracy and completeness, collect the fee along with original identification documents (birth or citizenship certificates) and forward them to Passport Canada for review and processing. Passport Canada will then deliver the passport to the applicant by courier, along with the original identification documents. Final decisions on passport entitlement remain with Passport Canada.

Applicants can find more information on the passport process at www.passportcanada.gc.ca. or by calling Passport Canada's toll-free line at 1-800-567-6868. For more information about Service Canada's role in helping Canadians obtain a passport and the conditions under which citizens can use receiving agent services, call 1 800 O-Canada, click on www.servicecanada.gc.ca, or visit a Service Canada Centre that offers receiving agent services.

This news release is available in alternative formats on request. Call 1-800- 788-8282 on a touch-tone phone or through a teletypewriter (TTY).

            Service Canada Passport Receiving Agent Sites
                       Open as of May 23, 2007
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Passport Receiving
 Service Location     Address                    Hours of Operation
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Burnaby Service       4279 Canada Way,           Monday to Friday
 Canada Centre        Burnaby, BC                8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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Coquitlam Service     100-2963 Glen Drive,       Monday to Friday
 Canada Centre        Coquitlam, BC              8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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North Shore Service   100-221 West Esplanade,    Monday to Friday
 Canada Centre        North Vancouver, BC        8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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www.servicecanada.ca