Service Canada is Open for Business in North Central Regina, Saskatchewan

September 19, 2005

(REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN) - Service Canada Centre offices are now open across Saskatchewan, including a new centre in North Central Regina. Ralph Goodale, Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for Wascana, opened the centre on behalf of Belinda Stronach, Minister for Service Canada and Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

Also participating in today's event were Lynn Allan, Regional Director - South West Region, Department of Community Resources and Employment, representing the Government of Saskatchewan, and Regina Police Chief Cal Johnston, representing the Regina Inner City Community Partnership.

The centre, co-located with Aboriginal Family Services, offers local inner-city residents one-stop access to a comprehensive range of Government of Canada programs and services. It is the first community service facility of its kind to be opened under Service Canada.

"This is an exciting time for the Government of Canada and the people of Regina who depend on us to deliver the services and benefits they need," said Minister Goodale.

Service Canada will bring the range of government services together through a single service delivery network to meet the individual needs of Canadians, wherever they live. "One number to call. One office to visit. One website to click. No matter who you are, or what Government of Canada service you are looking for, your first stop - your one stop -- will be Service Canada," the Minister added.

The Service Canada network in Saskatchewan consists of centres in: Estevan, La Ronge, Melfort, Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Regina, Saskatoon, Swift Current, Weyburn, Yorkton and North Central Regina. An additional two outreach sites will be opened in Shaunavon and Meadow Lake by the end of October, 2005. These sites will be open to the public for a certain number of days per week, with established hours. A further nine outreach locations will be opened in other communities around the province.

Each month, Saskatchewan's 100 Service Canada front-line staff serve almost 43,000 residents of Saskatchewan receive in-person, or telephone assistance.

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The North Central Regina Service Canada Centre is a pilot site chosen to strengthen the connection between the young, urban Aboriginal community and the Government of Canada by helping them to better access the many services government has to offer.

The area known as North Central Regina is the focus of an ongoing intergovernmental partnership known as the Regina Inner City Community Partnership (RICCP). Through the RICCP, North Central residents have expressed the need for better access to government services. They have also identified the need for government to reach out to residents, providing services that meet individual needs. "This is what Service Canada is all about," said Minister Stronach in greetings to launch participants. "Service Canada is committed to serving people better by having a stronger presence in communities across the country. We will meet their individual needs and we will be accessible and easy to find."

Service Canada integrates services from a number of federal departments to form an easy-to-access service delivery network. It promises better services to more Canadians in more communities, delivered with the right service attitude. These services touch all aspects of the lives of Canadians: from parental and pension benefits, to matching employers with job seekers, applying for a passport and obtaining a Social Insurance Number. Today, this network brings together 320 points of service in communities throughout Canada; a national 1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232) telephone service providing Canadians with information about all federal government services; and a range of on-line services at servicecanada.gc.ca.

In 2006, Service Canada's points of service will double, reaching 1.25 million more Canadians and giving access to many remote and rural communities previously under-served. One of the primary ways this will be done is through mobile outreach - scheduled or in response to a particular need -- by knowledgeable Service Canada representatives travelling to meet the special needs of individuals, employers, and organizations.

For more information about Service Canada and the North Central Service Canada Centre, see the attached backgrounders.

Information:

Craig Henry
Service Canada
Saskatchewan Region
(306) 539-1659

John Embury
Office of Minister Goodale
(613) 996-3457

Amy Butcher
Director of Communications
Office of Minister Belinda Stronach
(819) 994-2482

Public Enquiries:

1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232)
TTY: 1 800 926-9105
servicecanada.gc.ca

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