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Passport success

North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce News Release ******************** On May 11, 2007, the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with MP Anthony Rota, hosted a Passport Information Session at Northgate Shopping Centre.
Kate Adams


North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce
News Release

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On May 11, 2007, the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with MP Anthony Rota, hosted a Passport Information Session at Northgate Shopping Centre.

The session was designed to allow interested individuals to obtain information regarding the process of applying for a passport, requirements for passports, costs, information regarding processing times and tips for more urgent processing. In addition, Mr. Rota’s staff was on hand to assist people in completing the necessary documentation.

“Recent regulation changes which require that Canadians flying to the United States have a valid passport have lead to a substantial increase in passport applications,” says Mr. Rota. “Sessions such as this one help to dispel any worries or misinformation that people may have when it comes to applying for a Canadian passport.”

The information session was held between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. In that time, just over 350 individuals came out to seek assistance and to ask questions.

Sean Lawlor, Chair of the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs committee said “the event was a complete success. The Chamber of Commerce is always looking for ways to better serve our local businesses. When we can tie that in with an event that also assists the residents of our entire district, we are always eager to get involved.”

Anyone who was unable to attend the session can still take advantage of the expertise of Mr. Rota’s staff by stopping in at his constituency office located at 133 Main Street West to obtain information.

Mr. Rota’s best piece of advice to anyone who may be planning a trip abroad sometime in the next few months is to apply for their passports well ahead of time. “I would strongly encourage people to apply for their passports at least 10-12 weeks before their expected departure date” says Mr. Rota, “in order to avoid any risk of not receiving their passports in time.”

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