Police called as anger boils over at Surrey, B.C., passport office
After spending days camping on the sidewalk outside Surrey’s Central City mall hoping to get an emergency passport in time for long weekend cross-border travel, several dozen people marched inside to the Service Canada office and demanded to be seen.
Along them was Kamal Kaur, who said: “They didn’t come call us in, nobody called us, so around 11 o’clock we decided to go inside.”
Discussions between that group and security guarding the door to the Service Canada office inside the mall got so heated, RCMP were called.
“The police got here and tried to calm down the crowd. The crowd let them know exactly what’s going on and how long they’ve been waiting,” said Avang Najarli, who had camped out for two days for her passport.
Const. Gurvinder Ghag with Surrey RCMP said officers were there to keep the peace. “Some people who were in line waiting to get their passports were frustrated with the wait times. Unfortunately that’s not something that we have control over,” Ghag said, urging patience.
Serena Vlassovoulis wasn’t surprised police were called. She spent Wednesday night and all day Thursday outside the Surrey passport office hoping to get documents for her trip to Las Vegas on Saturday, but left frustrated and empty handed. Others had been camping out there since Monday.
With time running out, Vlassovoulis decided to try her luck at the Vancouver passport office inside Sinclair Centre on Friday, which was taking some emergency last minute walk ins. Her flight is booked for 7 a.m. on Saturday.
“I did everything that was necessary to have my passport in time, and I definitely think the government has to do something about this whole situation and fast, because people are really fed up,” Vlassovoulis said, while sitting on the floor of the atrium outside Service Canada with a friend who also needs an emergency passport for their trip to Vegas, because the ones they ordered in March still haven’t arrived.
Just behind them in line, Cherie Watson, who’s booked on a Saturday flight to Mexico City for a long-awaited family celebration.
“I woke up this morning very discouraged. I’ve been here, this is my third day, and I’m tired, my body hurts, and I really want my passport,” said Watson.
She understands Service Canada is short staffed, but believes the federal government needs to do more to tackle the huge backlog of passport renewals.
“They knew that once they opened things up, people would want to travel and go home and see their loved ones. So they should have put other things into play here,” said Watson.
Everyone in line who had long weekend travel plans knew this was their last chance. Service Canada’s passport offices are now all closed until Tuesday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.