Passport processing disrupted by federal public workers’ strike

Canadians can expect to encounter severe disruptions to passport processing – among other essential services – as a result of a national federal public workers’ strike that began early Wednesday.

More than 100,000 federal public servants represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada, including more than 30,000 workers at the Canada Revenue Agency, walked off their jobs after the union and the government failed to make any substantial progress on negotiations for a new collective agreement. Both sides remain at odds over a number of key issues, including wages and remote work.

Passport applications and the subsequent delivery of new or renewed passports will only be processed for Canadians experiencing humanitarian or emergency situations and Canadians residing abroad, as long as the strike continues, according to the government.

The government defines emergency situations as applying to those who depend on travel for their income security, those who have to travel for medical reasons, or those who experience a family illness or death.

Passport processing offices across the country were already experiencing substantial backlogs when pandemic-related restrictions were lifted a year ago, and travel volume began picking up. The government has since hired more than 1,000 new personnel to clear those backlogs.

The strike also takes place ahead of a crucial tax-filing deadline of May 1. According to the Canada Revenue Agency, however, the tax deadline will not be extended given that there will be no delay in the electronic processing of tax filings, which are done automatically. Disruptions can be expected in processing some income tax and benefits returns filed by paper, as well as increased wait times for CRA call centres.

Future of work reporter Vanmala Subramaniam and deputy Ottawa bureau chief Bill Curry report here.

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