P.E.I. gets faster passport service

The federal government is expanding passport services in Prince Edward Island, allowing residents who need urgent travel documents to access faster processing closer to home.

A new passport printer has been installed at the Charlottetown Service Canada Centre, allowing passports to be printed on-site rather than sent elsewhere for production, according to a news release issued Tuesday (Sept. 15).

The upgrade means the Charlottetown location can now offer express passport service, with processing times of two to nine business days, as well as urgent service by the end of the next business day.

Sean Casey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, announced the expanded services in Charlottetown on behalf of Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.

Previously, the Charlottetown Service Canada Centre offered 10-business-day passport service and a modified express service of three to nine business days.

Passports were printed in Halifax and then delivered by courier to Charlottetown for pickup.

“No matter where they live, Canadians should be able to access important services in their own communities. The new passport printer at the Charlottetown Service Canada Centre will make it easier for people in Prince Edward Island to access more passport services closer to home. By bringing services closer to the people who rely on them, we are making it easier for Canadians to get the support they need, when they need it,” said Hajdu in a statement.

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