Richard Cannings, MP (Photo supplied)
If you can’t make it to MP Richard Cannings’ constituency office in Penticton, the constituency office is coming to you.
Beginning this Friday, the MP’s constituency office staff will hold the first “Pop-Up Constituency Office” in Osoyoos where staff can assist with access to federal government programs and services.
The office will be located at Legion Hall at 8310 78th Street in Osoyoos from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 20.
Similar “pop-up” constituency offices will be held in Grand Forks and New Denver. Cannings’ permanent offices are in Penticton and Castlegar, but some constituents have difficulties travelling to them and they prefer face-to-face meetings.
The “pop-up” offices will be held monthly except during the summer.
“In a large riding like ours, I know it can be difficult for people to make it to one of my constituency offices in person to receive help or services,” Cannings said in a news release. “So I am happy to be able to offer the chance to bring those services closer to home and hold these pop-up office locations on a monthly basis.”
Those wishing to make an appointment can call toll free to 1-844-241-0018. Drop-ins will also be accepted.
Jennifer Ratz, member’s assistant to Cannings, who previously worked for former MP Alex Atamanenko, said this is the first time Cannings has done this.
Atamanenko wasn’t able to do it because the former Conservative government froze MPs’ budgets eight years ago, she said.
While the constituency offices receive a considerable amount of casework from constituents by email, the one-day-a-month pop-up offices will assist those without computers, she said.
Future dates for pop-up offices in Osoyoos are May 20, June 17, Sept. 16 and Oct. 21. All are at the Legion Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
MPs offices can assist with such federal services as Citizenship and Immigration, Employment Insurance, Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement, Canada Pension Plan, passports and others.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
