Evidence of meeting #55 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was passport.
A video is available from Parliament.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Mr. Chair, we decided what our schedule was. We're questioning the minister on passports right now. The member's time is up, so I'd like to move on, please.
Thank you.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Mrs. Gray, yes, we can raise that at the end of the meeting.
Ms. Zarrillo, I have to move to Mrs. Gray as per the schedule and the agreement of the committee.
Mrs. Gray.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister, for being here today.
Minister, do you know—
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Soraya Martinez Ferrada Liberal Hochelaga, QC
On a point of order, Mr. Chair.
If I understand correctly, Ms. Zarrillo made a motion while she had the floor. If that is the case, does the motion not take precedence over the debate?
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Yes, you are correct. The motion is entertained at any time, but I did not get a motion from Ms. Zarrillo.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.
If someone wishes to move a motion, then it should be during their time. There was no motion moved during the member's time, so I respectfully ask.... That time is up, and we've moved on.
Thank you.
4:40 p.m.
NDP
Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
I'm sorry, Mr. Chair.
Maybe I was being too collaborative in my approach to ask for permission, so I would ask the member to give me the opportunity. I have a very quick motion to read. Next time I won't ask for collaboration up front. I'll just go ahead with my motion.
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Does the committee agree that Ms. Zarrillo can move her motion?
We do not have unanimous consent, Ms. Zarrillo, but at your next speaking opportunity you can.
Mrs. Gray, you have five minutes.
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm starting my time now.
Thank you, Minister, for being here.
Minister, do you know what the closest urgent passport pickup location is for people who live in southern British Columbia, specifically the Okanagan region?
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
You're correct. It would be either Calgary or Surrey, British Columbia.
Do you know how long the drive is from Kelowna—Lake Country to Surrey, British Columbia, in good weather conditions?
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
The amount of time in good weather conditions is five hours.
I'd like to read you some media quotes. The first is, “The Coquihalla Highway in the BC Interior is closed in both directions between Hope and Merritt due to heavy snowfall”. The second one is, “These are severe weather conditions that are pretty unpredictable”.
Minister, I could read hundreds just like this, even from over the past few years. Would you recommend someone venture on this road to pick up a passport—yes or no?
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
Karina Gould Liberal Burlington, ON
No—for safety reasons—but I can take this information back with me, Mrs. Gray. We can see what we can do to make sure it's more accessible for folks in Kelowna. That's something that's really important for me right across the country.
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Thank you, Minister.
Just to add onto this, have you heard of the documentary TV series Highway Thru Hell?
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
It shows real-life heavy vehicle rescue and tow truck company hardships in one of Canada's harshest regions for winter driving, including the high-summit Coquihalla Highway.
Minister, what's happening right now is that you're asking about 700,000 people who live in the southern interior, including the 350,000 from the Okanagan, to drive this dangerous winter highway to pick up a passport.
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
Karina Gould Liberal Burlington, ON
We're not asking them to do that, actually. There is a passport office in Kelowna, but I do take your point, Mrs. Gray, and I will take it back. I'd be happy to look into this for you.
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Thank you, Minister.
Just to tag onto that, I've actually been asking you about this for quite some time. In May of 2022 I wrote you regarding expanding passport service at the Kelowna passport office to provide urgent pickup. I highlighted how municipalities and regions with smaller populations have urgent pickup. I also noted economic reasons and driving safety reasons. In July of 2022 I wrote you a follow-up email. In August of 2022 I wrote you for a third time, this time joined by community leaders in the British Columbia southern interior from 37 local municipal governments and business and tourism groups.
You have not responded to any of this communication. Why have you not responded?
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
Karina Gould Liberal Burlington, ON
I can assure you, Mrs. Gray, that we have taken it all under advisement.
One thing I can also clarify for you is that, when we're looking at how passport services are distributed across the country, B.C. is one of those areas that are underserved, so we're taking that into account as we look to expand those additional 25 offices across the country.
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Minister, I can appreciate that, but none of this communication has received even so much as a response from you or from your office.
Can you table for this committee what the metrics are to determine whether a passport office should be upgraded to urgent service for passports?