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
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.