Ottawa reviewing Passport protocol for disabled applicants
Posted May 9, 2017 10:31:30 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The federal government says it is reviewing a policy that forbids staff in passport offices from helping disabled applicants fill out their forms.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says it’s looking into revising the policy, which bars staff from filling out applications on someone else’s behalf for fear of potential forgery cases.
The department says it is developing an interim measure to be rolled out in the next few weeks while it works on its review.
Under current policy, Canadians needing help with their documents are advised to have a friend or family member complete the paperwork.
The review comes after two Canadians with disabilities filed formal complaints after recently being denied help at Service Canada offices in Ontario.
Andrew Gurza, who has cerebral palsy, couldn’t get staff to help him when he tried to renew his passport at an office in Toronto last month and says he hopes the government’s new policy will include input from people who live with its effects.
A Windsor, Ontario woman who had a similar experience says any revised policy must be more flexible to account for the varying needs of Canadians with disabilities.
