Vancouver Consulate reaches out to Filipinos in Alberta

Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer of the Philippine Consulate in Vancouver reported that they had successfully conducted a Consular Outreach Program to service Filipinos in Calgary, AB on July 15 to 17, at the Calgary Police Services Headquarters and in Edmonton, AB on July 19 to 21, at the Coast Plaza Hotel.

A total of 1,603 consular services were rendered including 1,408 e-passport processing; 111 notarials; 23 civil registry and 61 oath taking of dual citizenship. The team also accepted 626 application for registration/certification for the purpose of overseas voting.

Besides Congen Ferrer, members of the consular team that conducted the outreach program included Consul Melanie Diano, Lucelyn Gumabay, Ma. Adora Cruz, Vincent John Ruiz and Paulino Paco.

During the consular outreach, Congen Ferrer met with Rick Hanson, chief of Calgary police. He explained the services that the consular team renders and thanked the Calgary Police Service for providing a free venue for the outreach program.

Chief Hanson expressed appreciation for the consular outreach service conducted within the Calgary Police Service headquarters, which has enabled them to connect and meet members of the Filipino community across Alberta.

Meanwhile, on July 22, Congen Ferrer met with Len Jillard, senior vice president and chief people officer of McDonald’s Canada to discuss the impact of the moratorium and recent changes to the temporary foreign worker program (TFWP) on Filipino temporary foreign workers (TFWs) in McDonald’s restaurants across Canada.

During the meeting, Jillard said that a number of Filipino TFWs whose work permit expired and could no longer be renewed were already sent home and received a benefit package. Congen Ferrer asked Jillard to remind the workers to abide by the terms of their work permit and not to overstay once their status have expired so that they maintain a good record and could possibly return and work again in Canada in the future.