July was an eventful month in the Greater Sudbury-Nickel Belt region! The month included a visit from renowned activist and researcher Jane Goodall with PM Justin Trudeau as we planted the 10 millionth tree in the region, several visits from Cabinet Ministers, Canada Day celebrations and consultations for the 2023-2028 Action Plan for Official Languages. 

At the same time, our government made important announcements that will benefit all Canadians. On July 20^th, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Karina Gould announced an increase to the Canada Child Benefit and on July 28^th, the Honourable Kamal Khera, Minister of Seniors announced that Old Age Security payments would be increasing permanently by 10% for seniors aged 75 and over.

 Here is a glimpse at some of what took place locally and Nickel Belt in July:

Press releases, funding and engagement opportunities

• MP Serré shared that FedNor would invest more than $2 million to position Greater Sudbury as a hub for Battery Electric Vehicle expertise
• MP Serré announced Celebrate Canada Days 2022 funding in Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury
• MP Serré shared that the Government of Canada would invests over $1.7 million to revitalize local infrastructure and create a 180-seat open-air theatre in Greater Sudbury
• MP Serré shared that consultations have opened for capping and cutting emissions from the oil and gas sector
• MP Serré announced that seniors and youth benefit from Government of Canada’s support for community-based projects in Sudbury

Multimedia

• MP Serré spoke to Ian Campbell from CTV News about French language consultations that took place in Sudbury on July 15^th

Community Engagement

• MP Serré continued Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages functions and duties to protect and advance minority languages in the country
• Marc continues his role as Chair of ParlAmericas’ Canadian Section
• MP Serré
• MP Serré stopped through Sturgeon Falls, St. Charles, Capreol and Blezard Valley to join them in celebrating Canada Day
• MP Serré led official language consultations virtually and in person
• MP Serré
• MP Serré attended behind the scenes filming for Reasons for Hope, a Science North production featuring Jane Goodall that shares Sudbury’s regreening story
• MP Serré attended a Military Family BBQ at CFB North Bay with MP Anthony Rota and they were joined by Prime Minister Trudeau
• MP Serré toured underground facilities at MacLean Engineering with Prime Minister Trudeau
• MP Serré joined Prime Minister Trudeau in a hike with the Science North Youth Council
• MP Serré joined Jane Goodall, Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister Guilbeault in planting the 10 millionth tree

• MP Serré joined Prime Minister Trudeau in attending the Sudbury Farmer’s Market at Science North
• MP Serré joined Minister Guilbeault in meeting Devin Arthur from the Electric Vehicle society

• MP Serré was joined by MP Lapointe and Minister Guilbeault in visiting Clearwater Lake, which has become renowned for its ability to ecologically recover
• MP Serré was joined by MP Lapointe and the Hon. Steven Guilbeault for the launch of the Climate Action Show and travelling exhibition.
• MP Serré greeted festival goers at the 50^th annual Italian Festival at the Caruso Club
• MP Serré held official language consultations in Sudbury
• MP Serré hosted official language consultations in Iqaluit
• MP Serré was joined by MP Macleod in announcing $4.3 million for College Nordique
• MP Serré hosted official language consultations in Yellowknife
• MP Serré participated in the Dene National Assembly with Dene Grand Chief Gerald Antoine and MP Michael McLeod
• MP Serré met with the Fédération Franco-Ténoise to hear about the needs in the field
• MP Serré dropped by to say thank you to the Daughters of Isabelle of Sturgeon Falls #694 volunteers for 78 years of contributions to the community
• MP Serré went to Laurentian University to greet SHAD students who are there for the month of July
• MP Serré engaged in great dialogue with constituents regarding broadband services in our region
• MP Serré had a productive conversation with Noëlville Mayor Gisele Pageau and CAO Marc Gagnon as they discussed infrastructure funding

Please note the Nickel Belt constituency office is facing a very high demand for passport application appointments. It is important to note we are not able to expedite any passport requests. Please call our office to book an appointment if you wish to have your passport application reviewed, 1-800-267-4829.

Or you can visit Service Canada locations below. General processing times are currently taking approximately 13 weeks however that is not guaranteed. Special note, Passport applications cannot be submitted online.

• Service Canada 30 Front St. Sturgeon Falls Tuesdays 9am to 2pm (closed from 12:00pm to 12:30pm)
• Service Canada 19 Lisgar Street, Main Floor Sudbury, Ontario
• Service Canada Canada Place 107 Shirreff Avenue, Suite 102 North Bay, Ontario

Service Canada offices across the country are experiencing a very high volume of passport applications which has affected the processing times. If you have submitted an application, you may check the status of your application online at: https://secure.cic.gc.ca/rs-vd/stat-eng.aspx

Find full details on renewals, simplified applications, and children’s passports at: https://www.canada.ca/.../services/canadian-passports.html

If you submitted your application and are under 20 days away from your travel date you should check the status of your application https://secure.cic.gc.ca/rs-vd/stat-eng.aspx as you may need to request to have your application transferred to a passport issuing office by calling: 1-800-567-6868.

A passport transfer request can be made at any one of the 300 Service Canada centres across Canada. Transfer requests can be made if you applied by mail more than 20 business days ago or if you are traveling within the next 20 business days.

For Canadians who have not yet submitted a passport request and are traveling within 13 weeks they should visit the nearest Service Canada Centre – Passport Service office for service. Proof of urgency is required in these cases.

Canadians with no imminent travel or travel of 9 weeks or more can apply by visiting any of over 300 Service Canada Centres. Service Canada encourages Canadians to make sure they have their passport before making travel commitments and to apply 3-4 months in advance of their travels to ensure they receive their passport on time.