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Line-ups and delays at passport offices in Ottawa, and across the country, are continuing to cause problems for Canadians who want to visit the United States or travel overseas. The Conservative government’s failure to address the growing passport backlog has continued despite thousands of constituent inquiries, and pressure from the opposition to deploy more resources. The ongoing management problems at Passport Canada are costing Canadians time and money.

Two months ago, Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay told Canadians that upwards of 500 new passport employees had been hired, but recently we learned that none of them are actually on the job. On February 13, 2007, Mr. MacKay said in the House of Commons' Question Period that at least 500 more employees had been hired at Passport Canada to deal with the backlog. But on April 23, he said that he hopes “to have them all on stream very soon.”

Meanwhile, the massive line-ups at passport offices across the country continue to grow. Outside of major cities many people must travel long distances to get to a passport office. Here, many have to take time off work to spend the day waiting in line.

The problems reveal a lack of reasonable preparation by the Conservative government for the increase in passport applications. The rise was predictable and followed the new American policy requiring Canadians travelling by air to the U.S. to show a passport. Instead of increasing the resources, the Conservatives estimated as little as an 8% increase.

Since the problem has deepened, government officials have refused to provide any concrete answers about what is being done to alleviate the backlog. Passport Canada's Ottawa-based representative has said that their telephone information line is equipped to handle about 25,000 calls per week, but they're actually getting 140,000.

Unfortunately, management problems at Passport Canada are echoed at the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). Since taking power last year, the minority Conservatives have allowed the number of vacancies on the board’s 156-member compliment to grow from five to 60. The loss of resources has created a crisis in the backlog for refugee hearings, leaving vulnerable people in limbo and creating a situation where social problems can easily arise.

Though backlogs due to spikes in applications have occurred in the past, at the end of 2005 there were essentially zero names left waiting. By the end of 2006, thanks to the loss of adjudicators, there were 3,495 outstanding hearings. Three months later that backlog jumped again by almost 3,000. IRB spokespeople confirm that the number of applications has been steady. The waiting list is growing thanks to the drop in resources to do the job.

While the Conservative government drags its feet on serious management issues at the expense of fairness, efficiency and compassion, I will continue to fight for responsible management and sufficient resources at Passport Canada, the IRB, and throughout government.