Local Service Canada site closed until further notice

Reeti Meenakshi Rohilla - Staff Writer

The Service Canada site in Sioux Lookout will remain closed until further notice, according to a spokesperson for Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). Samuelle Carbonneau informed via email, that the Sioux Lookout site is a scheduled outreach site, not a Service Canada Centre. “This service requires staff to travel from one community to another. The return to scheduled outreach sites will be guided by the advice of public health authorities and will consider evolving health and safety conditions at each location. The priority is to ensure the safety of clients and Service Canada staff,” Carbonneau explained.
Carbonneau informed that that visits to scheduled outreach sites are not planned until further notice. People can access Service Canada programs, services and benefits through their online page on the Government of Canada’s website, at Canada.ca/service-canada-home and call centres listed on the same site. Carbonneau mentioned that all Service Canada in-person services closed on March 27, due to the pandemic.
Carbonneau added that clients who may not have access to the Internet or may face other barriers “can call the Service Canada Outreach Support Centre toll-free at 1-877-355-2657 to receive immediate assistance from a Service Canada representative.” The nearest Service Canada Centre to Sioux Lookout is in Kenora.
People who require in-person services should check the Find a Service Canada Office webpage on the Government of Canada’s website, at https://bit.ly/31u5c5F, for information about the local offices that are open. Carbonneau mentioned, “Clients requiring in-person services are encouraged to submit a request for assistance through eService Canada portal (https://eservices.canada.ca/en/service/). A Service Canada officer will call them within two business days to address their service needs.”
Some of the common services provided by Service Canada include COVID-19 Emergency benefits and services, Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS), Social Insurance Number (SIN), Passport, GHT/HST Credit, Apprenticeship Incentive Grants, Wage Earner Protection Program, Benefits Finder and others. It provides Canadians with a single-point of access to a wide range of government services and benefits.