Launch of Service Canada
VERDUN, Sept. 14 /CNW Telbec/ - In Verdun today, Liza Frulla, Minister of
Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women and MP for
Jeanne-Le Ber, Quebec officially launched Service Canada, a new, cross-Canada
government service delivery network.
At the same time, Minister for Service Canada and Minister of Human
Resources and Skills Development, Belinda Stronach hosted a Service Canada
kick-off event in Toronto.
"Our government chose the one-stop service delivery approach to make it
easier for citizens to access the information and service they need from us",
said Minister Frulla. "In urban, rural and remote communities across the
country, Canadians will receive the help they need, when they want, where they
want and how they want."
Canadians will be able to choose how they access Government of Canada
services: in person, by phone or Internet. Today, the Service Canada network
brings together 320 points of service in communities across the country; a
national 1 800 O-Canada ( 1 800 622 - 6232) telephone service providing
Canadians with information about all federal government services; and a range
of on-line services at www.servicecanada.gc.ca .
Service Canada's more than 20,000 staff are ready: all front-line,
processing and management staff have been specially-trained to provide a
knowledgeable first point of contact for the Government of Canada and support
one-stop service delivery.
As we put Service Canada in place over the next year or two, there will
be no net job loss. What we are doing is reallocating resources from
processing, which is being automated in order to have more people servicing
Canadians directly - in our offices and through mobile outreach.
In 2006, Service Canada's points of service will double, reaching
1.25 million more Canadians and giving access to many remote and rural
communities previously under-served. One of the primary ways this will be done
is through mobile outreach - scheduled or in response to a particular need --
by knowledgeable Service Canada representatives travelling to meet the special
needs of individuals, employers, and organizations. Services will be offered
in partnership with various jurisdictions and community organizations.
Service Canada has already put in place a number of service improvements
which residents of Quebec and other communities across Canada can now access
(Verdun has been a pilot site featuring these improvements since last Fall):
- In addition to Passport Canada's existing service network, Canadians
can now apply for passports in 23 Service Canada locations across the
country, three of which are located in Quebec (Drummondville,
Baie-Comeau and Val d'Or). By year end, 11 more locations will be
operational including two more in Quebec (Chibougamau and La Tuque).
- In five pilot locations in Quebec and Alberta, individuals can now
apply for and receive a Social Insurance Number (SIN) in one visit. In
Quebec, this pilot is taking place in Verdun. The new service is
planned for all Service Canada locations on a national scale by
Spring 2006.
- In Verdun, Drummondville and Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Service Canada
agents are able to direct clients to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Web Site and help them find the information they need, retrieve
personal account information or order tax forms. For complex cases,
our staff can make referrals to CRA agents and 1 800 lines. By
March 2006, this service will be extended to a number of additional
centres across the country.
- Canadians will receive the assistance they need to familiarize
themselves with, and maximize the use of, on-line services.
Individuals can now apply on-line for Employment Insurance benefits,
file all the necessary reports and employers can produce records of
employment. Today, more than 90 percent of all initial EI applications
are now being submitted on-line. The 12 million Canadians who
contribute to the Canada Pension Plan will now also be able to view
their Statement of Contribution online and access useful tools which
can help them with their retirement plans.
Over the coming months, Canadians will continue to experience tangible
improvements in service whether they choose to reach Service Canada by calling
1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232), through its Web Site ( servicecanada.gc.ca ),
or visiting one of the 320 Service Canada Centres across Canada.
