Toronto 
The Ontario government is enhancing the convenience and accessibility of vital government services like driver’s licenses and health cards.
Service Ontario
Starting in early 2024, new ServiceOntario centers will open in selected Staples Canada stores, with more locations expected to open across the year.
This initiative represents a partnership between the government and Staples Canada, aimed at providing services in locations where Ontarians already live, work, and shop.
“We are working to make it easier to live and work in Ontario, with in-person access as a fundamental component of excellent service delivery,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery in a news release. “That is why we are partnering with Staples Canada, an experienced retailer with a strong presence in Ontario, to help provide services where people already live, work and shop.”
Per the news release, this initiative is among several innovative approaches ServiceOntario is adopting to enhance service delivery. These include the establishment of a ServiceOntario and municipal services hub in the Township of Pickle Lake, which benefits local residents and those from northern communities.
ServiceOntario is also offering live virtual appointments for eligible residents who find it challenging to visit their centers in person, replicating the in-person service experience from home. To address the increasing demand, eight of the busiest ServiceOntario centers in the Greater Toronto Area now provide health card services to work permit holders and their families.
Furthermore, a mobile service unit, in partnership with the North Shore Tribal Council, extends services to several communities in the Robinson-Huron Treaty area, supplementing the ServiceOntario center in Cutler.
ServiceOntario completes 59 million transactions annually, connecting people and businesses with government services through various channels. The province boasts 275 ServiceOntario centers, and appointments for in-person visits can be booked at over 140 of its busiest centers.
