An Edmonton scout troop felt the influence of the passport issues nonetheless plaguing Canadians — simply hours earlier than take-off.
Members of third Edmonton Scouts acquired their passports 18 hours earlier than their flight’s departure to Finland.
The troop is touring to Finland on a 17-day journey to collect with greater than 15,000 scouts from world wide.
The group, which incorporates two adults and 11 youth, had been planning the journey for nearly three years and had fundraised greater than $40,000 to pay for it.
Seven of the kids and younger adults wanted new documentation and utilized for passports again in March.
Group commissioner Tara Cerhit mentioned none arrived.
“We adopted all the foundations and rules. We made positive we had loads of time. (The passports) had been by no means processed. They did not comply with by way of on supply dates. We now have supply dates which might be listed for the center of April however we do not have something.”
This week, the group began lining up exterior Canada Place to get their passports in an try to save lots of the journey, after studying the paperwork could also be contained in the constructing.
“The road-ups had been atrocious. They had been ready and ready and despatched house twice as a result of they weren’t touring inside 24 hours,” Cerhit mentioned Monday. “I’m in an actual state of panic. I’m nervous these children are going to overlook out on an journey they should have. It is heartbreaking for the quantity of effort.”
Scout Ellis Mangum arrived to Canada Place at 4 am Monday within the hopes of getting his passport.
“I waited for 12 hours…and nothing,” he mentioned.
Scout Niels Clintberg mentioned the entire expertise was “a bit foolish, actually”.
A pointy enhance in demand for passports prompted the federal authorities to place a triage system in place final week in numerous cities — together with Edmonton. It instructed these flying inside 48 hours to move to a Service Canada website.
Learn extra:
Feds aiming to clear passport backlog in subsequent ‘4 to six weeks’: minister
Cerhit mentioned she would not imagine the triage system helped her group — as she lined up once more Tuesday at 1:30 am in a final ditch effort.
“What’s incorrect with the system is it is not functioning, plain and easy. It isn’t an advanced exercise, to fill out these types. There is no motive they need to be ready seventeen weeks for this.”
The seven members of the group received their passports simply earlier than 4 pm Tuesday.
Regardless of excessive delays and uncertainty for some, the federal authorities mentioned nearly all of Canadians are getting their passports on time.
“The place we wish to be is individuals getting their passport properly upfront after they apply. That is what we’re working towards within the subsequent 4 to 6 weeks,” Minister Karina Gould, who’s accountable for passport providers, mentioned Tuesday.
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