Inauguration of the new Passport Canada office in Kelowna

GATINEAU, QC, April 7 /CNW Telbec/ - The Honorable Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board, Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Member of Parliament for Okanagan-Coquihalla along with Ron Cannan, Member of Parliament for Kelowna-Lake Country, are proud to inaugurate the new Passport Canada office in Kelowna.

"It's been a long road but our government has delivered on its promises. Passport Canada and Public Works and Government Services Canada have put in a lot of effort over the last 24 months to deliver this much anticipated passport office. In the name of all Kelowna-Lake Country and Southern Interior residents of British Columbia, I salute their hard work and thank them for delivering the goods," said MP Cannan.

"The number of passport applicants in the Okanagan Valley has increased by 10 percent over the past year to over 48,000 in 2009. This growth has translated into a need for improved passport services to accommodate increased volumes of passport applications - volumes that will assure the financial sustainability of this initiative," added Minister Day.

Located at 1835 Gordon Drive, suite 110, in the Capri Centre, the new office will have 10 counters and a waiting room that seats 55. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

With this office, the residents of Kelowna now have access to three passport service locations, two of which are receiving agents: a Canada Post office and a Service Canada Centre. The new office in Kelowna brings the number of passport service points in Canada to 231 compared to just 30 in 2003.

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