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Service New Brunswick customers still waiting hours in long lineups
People waiting for hours outdoors say things will have to change before winter
Service New Brunswick has always had a reputation for long wait times, but since COVID-19 prompted physical-distancing rules, those lineups often snake outside into parking lots and onto the street.
On Monday afternoon, Ginette Sirois was still in line at the Dieppe Service New Brunswick office after waiting for three hours, and she was still outside.
She needed to renew her driver's licence. It is a service that's offered online, but Sirois doesn't have a computer.
"It should be done differently," she said. "Imagine later when it's cold."
The senior had already stood in the long line twice but gave up after an hour.
She called the wait "unacceptable' but said she was determined to stand there Monday until she got the job done.
Brittney Hunt got in line with about a dozen other people before the office opened. She waited with Gabriel Bizier. (Tori Weldon/CBC)
In Moncton, about 40 people lined up into a parking lot to enter the Service New Brunswick office.
Brittney Hunt said she checked ahead of time, and her change of address needed to be done in person, so she showed up before the office even opened with about a dozen others, and was in and out in about two hours.
Her advice to others is to come prepared and to be patient.
"We came with coffee and there's like a portable washroom around the corner. I'm not 100 per cent sure if it's for Service New Brunswick, but I used it anyway," said Hunt with a laugh.
Aaron Roberts was in line with his son Phoenix, who wanted to register a motorcycle.
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Aaron Roberts, left, and his son Phoenix waited in line for about two and a half hours before being allowed into the office. They were there for a motorcycle registration. (Tori Weldon/CBC)
He said a Service New Brunswick employee was speaking to people in line to see what they were there for, and if they had the right paperwork, but that didn't happen until he'd been in line for two hours.
"We were almost to the front of the line," he said.
"If anything goes wrong, then you have to leave and come back and have to wait another three … hours."
Weeks after Service New Brunswick opened its offices throughout the province, people still have to line up outside for hours. 1:43
Valerie Kilfoil, director of communications for Service New Brunswick, said wait times vary from 10 minutes to two hours at the bigger centres, including Moncton, with Mondays and Fridays being the busiest days.
In an email she said online transactions are up by 36 per cent since the pandemic started, which shows people are doing what they can to stay home.
"However, with more people using our online services for what are the less complicated transactions, it means that people who wait in line often have more complicated transactions that take longer to process and cannot not be done online at this time at this time," she wrote.
About 40 people were in line at Moncton's Service New Brunswick office on Monday at 11 a.m. The corporation said Mondays and Fridays tend to be the busiest. (Tori Weldon/CBC)
She used the example of a marriage licence, which even before the pandemic would have taken a minimum of 30 minutes to process.
SNB is working to shift more of its services, such as address changes and learner's drivers tests online, but it isn't available yet.
Kilfoil said the department will launch a more user friendly website later this week.
"Service New Brunswick is working on a solution to admit more people indoors in anticipation of the colder weather," said Kilfoil .
More details like when or how were not available.
About the Author
David Amos
Methinks the Minister of Health is no doubt relieved that my very
decent doctor is retiring as well N'esy Pas?
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: So 4 more years of no Medicare card. Tough sledding ahead pal!
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: You did real well representing your pals in the EUB hearing you posted I was truly impressed!
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: Like my new pic. Its Sgt. Slaughter to you not Sgt. Oliver from now on..
It's so difficult for many devoted to the sixteenth century (royal family etc.) to get with today. The colony of Canada might never escape the days of old.
The poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all the forces of the Crown. It may be frail—its roof may shake—the wind may blow through it—the storm may enter—the rain may enter—but the King of England cannot enter!
William Pitt, Earl of Chatham 1708–78
British Whig statesman; Prime Minister,
Nature Trumps all.
Service NB is a disaster and an embarrassment to all NB governments over the years as you are all guilty. Don't blame the staff..You can call their three times a day and ask the same question to three different people and get three different answers...Service NB started as a place to renew your drivers lice and plates ,,Always run by managers with patronage connections to the leader or government and most times the manager didn't know his left hand from his right hand but he was a great recruiter and supporter of the government in power or looking to take power... Like the Kevin Cormier Trevor Holders chum, don't need any experience to be a Librarian..Motor vehicle / Service NB had great intentions when it started as place to get a new license and drivers lic,,, but both governments overwhelmed the service with multiple tasks,,So we have in my opinion overwhelmed the service and we have two few sites available to access Service NB in person..Mr Higgs please don't drop the ball now that you have the power you so sought !! Check out the services Service NB now offers below in the Link and their are more, below is just few what I found..And bring a lawn chair and an umbrella and a cooler if you going to service NB in Moncton and Dieppe and make sure your your cell phone is on full charge ..
https://www2.snb.ca/content/snb/en.html
No, more staff would mean there would be more folks standing around doing nothing. You can't really blame them though, just looking around, and at the folks working there, it just screams toxic workplace to me.
suck problems or health issues?
Do you not like services like healthcare, or is that “free stuff that liberals give out”?
Come on SNB you have had 6+ months to figure this out.