HAMILTON – Ontario is making it easier and more convenient to access government services such as applying for or renewing health cards and driver’s licences. Today, the province officially launched the expansion of ServiceOntario in six Staples Canada stores which will open on February 1. These new centres are part of the government’s ongoing work to explore new ways to make ServiceOntario more accessible for Ontario residents.

“By partnering with an experienced, established retailer with a strong community presence like Staples Canada, we can create simpler, faster and better ways to connect Ontarians to the vital services they depend on,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery. “Our retailer partnership program will enhance the customer experience and meet the needs of communities by bringing government services where people live, work and shop.”

The Staples Canada model is projected to save approximately $1 million over the duration of the three-year pilot. The new centres provide extended operating hours, increasing service hours by 30 per cent compared to the centres they are replacing. The centres also offer readily available parking, access to public transit routes and access to retail services all in one convenient hub.

The new Staples Canada-operated ServiceOntario centres are in the following communities:

• Oakville, 2460 Winston Churchill Boulevard
• Newmarket, 17810 Yonge Street
• Toronto (Scarborough), 1980 Eglinton Avenue, East
• Strathroy, 425 Caradoc Street, South
• Tillsonburg, Tillsonburg Town Centre, 200 Broadway Street
• Welland, Seaway Mall, 800 Niagara Street

“We are pleased to welcome ServiceOntario full-service centres at six of our store locations as of February 1,” said Rachel Huckle, President, Staples Canada. “We believe this pilot project will demonstrate that our stores will be a convenient option for busy Ontarians, offering more flexible hours to provide better access to the services they rely on.”

Additional ServiceOntario centres will open in Staples Canada stores in Hamilton, Keswick and Toronto (Leaside) later this year.

The Staples partnership is one part of ServiceOntario’s innovative alternative service delivery model designed to meet the unique needs of local communities. These initiatives include:

• New municipal partnerships operating ServiceOntario centres in Chatham, Dresden and Pickle Lake, providing one-stop municipal and provincial services in a single location.
• A partnership with the North Shore Tribal Council, which operates a bricks-and-mortar centre in Cutler as well as a mobile service unit that travels to communities throughout the Robinson-Huron Treaty area;
• A central service hub with Employment Ontario in Eganville; and
• Upcoming mobile service centres to better meet the needs of Ontarians in remote communities.

The government will continue to explore expanding and adding new models for ServiceOntario locations, including co-locations with municipalities, First Nations communities, in public libraries and other retail partners, which could include small businesses.

Appointments for the Staples ServiceOntario centres and other centres across the province can be booked at Ontario.ca/Appointments or by calling ServiceOntario at 1-800-387-3445 (TTY 1-800-268-7095).

Quick Facts