Okay, thank you.
I think everybody around this virtual table would agree that it's critical that Canadians have access to their benefits in a timely and efficient manner. We do know that with COVID-19, this stability is all that more important.
The departmental plan mentions that the department is undergoing changes to how it delivers services to Canadians. Among these changes is moving OAS benefits to the CPP IT platform.
I'd like to discuss the service standard, particularly as that pertains to these programs. I recently had a senior's case brought to my attention. In this case, the individual had been informed by Service Canada that it could take four months to process their CPP application and another eight months, or about 240 days, for its decision on their OAS application. The timeline posted for mailed-in application and applications received at Service Canada for CPP is 120 days.
Let's also keep in mind that many, if not all, Service Canada locations have been closed for a long duration of time during this pandemic and that many rural Canadians do not have access to rural broadband and either need to mail an application in or need to attend a Service Canada office. It would be my expectation that shortening that timeline is a goal for the department.
What funds, if any, are dedicated to improving service standards for Canadians?