Thanks very much.
First, to finish on citizenship, demand for citizenship has increased by 30% and we're averaging now 200,000 new citizens each year. So that's the net. In spite of our integrity measures, the number of citizens and the service delivered to them continues to improve.
On passports, we are driving towards even better service. It was good when the passport office was with Foreign Affairs. We're going to make it even better. Canadians expect that, as they travel more and as they rely on their passports as a tool of business and family life and communication. They will continue to receive access to the same passport services they received previously, despite the transfer, and passport services have improved continuously under our government. Indeed, service is the priority in a just-in-time passport system, and 5.1 million passports were issued in 2012-2013. And as I think you all know, the 10-year ePassport that was launched this year has been picked up at a record pace, beyond our expectations, with an 85% take-up rate and a million issued in a couple of months.
So we in Canada have one of the highest levels of service. We are respecting those service standards in 99% of cases. Since 2008, the number of Canadians with a Canadian passport increased by 20%—not after 9/11, but since the downturn in 2007—and is forecasted to reach 70% by 2013. That's a very high level. On average, Canadians can obtain a passport in 10 business days. Expedited services are offered for an additional fee, and as you know, 100 countries or so have ePassports in one way, shape, or form. Our new passport has enhanced security measures, an electronic chip that is the gold standard in this business, and we're also moving more services online, to make forms available electronically, and moving towards having more points of service. We have our passport offices. Many people use the mail. Many people use MPs offices, but we are driving towards Service Canada as a natural partner because it is already in many, many times the number of locations. I think it's in 330 locations, compared to the 34 passport offices we have across the country.