Service Canada is Open for Business in Winnipeg, Manitoba

(WINNIPEG, MANITOBA) - Manitoba's Service Canada Centres were officially launched today at the Bilingual Service Centre in St. Boniface. The Honourable Raymond Simard, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Internal Trade, Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, and Minister responsible for Official Languages, opened the centre on behalf of Belinda Stronach, Minister for Service Canada and Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

"Canadians have told us they want better service from their government, and today with the launch of Service Canada in Manitoba, we are improving the way we provide service to Manitobans, including offering service in both official languages," said Mr. Simard. "And this is just the beginning as we explore opportunities to expand our points of service to include smaller rural and northern Manitoba communities in the Service Canada network."

The Service Canada centre in St. Boniface is part of the Bilingual Service Centre, a service delivery partnership with the Province of Manitoba and City of Winnipeg, where local residents can get one-stop access to a comprehensive range of Government of Canada programs and services.

"We are pleased to be a partner with the federal government in the Service Canada Centres of Manitoba," said Manitoba French Language Services Minister Greg Selinger. "When somebody needs the services of one level of government, they often require assistance from another at the same time. Putting it all under one roof makes good sense."

"Providing quality service to the citizens of Winnipeg is a top priority for the City," said Mayor Sam Katz. "Our participation in the Bilingual Service Centre is an excellent example of how governments can work together to deliver services in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible."

The Service Canada network in Manitoba consists of 18 Service Canada Centres providing service to more than 250,000 Manitobans each year. In 2006, there will be 22 additional Service Canada outreach points of service in rural and northern Manitoba. The first communities to benefit from this outreach service will be Ashern, Gillam, Killarney, Beausejour, Gimli and Russell.

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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, 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.

"The goal of Service Canada is to improve our service delivery to Canadians in all communities," said Minister Stronach. "We are backing that commitment with a Service Charter that tells Canadians what to expect from us and how they can provide us with feedback"

In 2006, Service Canada's points of service across Canada 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 Bilingual Service Centre in St. Boniface, see the attached backgrounders.

Information:

Sue Foley-Currie
Service Canada
Manitoba Region
(204) 984-0592

Public Enquiries:

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

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

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