Service Canada leaves St. Vital
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/05/2021 (1988 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
OTTAWA — Service Canada has pulled out of St. Vital, leaving southeast Winnipeg with no federal office where people can get help with unemployment and pension issues.
The agency said the 1001 St. Mary’s Rd. location was too crowded, so it moved to a larger site in River Heights.
“There’s no rhyme or reason,” said Howard Kazuska, who said he often saw two dozen people lined up outside the office, which has limited visitors due to COVID-19 protocols.
Service Canada centres are often used by people with disabilities or limited Internet access, particularly with libraries closed.
Despite being next to an Employment Manitoba office, Service Canada closed its St. Vital branch April 16 and moved it to 1450 Taylor Ave.
“These decisions are based on a number of considerations such as suitability for service delivery, and are based on the results of the competitive tendering process which includes analysis of market availability,” wrote Megan Fulton, as spokeswoman for Employment and Social Development Canada.
The department said it had issued three tenders since 2016 to find an appropriate site. The intent was to find a spot in the area of Winnipeg that has a large francophone population, but Ottawa had to keep widening the geographic boundary until it found a spot.
Service Canada operates other branches at Portage Place, 2599 Main St. and 3393 Portage Ave.
That means a 40-minute bus ride for people in Transcona or inner St. Vital.
“It’s a pretty good hike, especially when it’s -40 C here,” said Kazuska. “There are people with walkers; there’s often a mother with one or two kids in tow.”
He reached out to area MP, Liberal Dan Vandal, who sits in the federal cabinet, who responded that he wasn’t aware of the move.
“Like you, I only found out about the move when it was made public; I was not consulted beforehand,” Vandal said in an email to Kazuska.
“I am deeply concerned by this decision and the loss of services in the area. I am currently advocating for the community to see what solutions can found.”
Service Canada said it consulted with the province and the Société de la francophonie manitobaine about the move, and opted to double the hours it offers some services at the Access Centre at 170 Goulet St. in St. Boniface.
dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca