Service BC is expanding the services it offers by partnering with the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation (SDSI) office in Grand Forks. This move is intended to help cut red tape, extend office hours for clients and give the community a ‘one-stop-shop’ for a wide range of government services, including marriage licensing, voter registration, and employment and assistance.

The SDSI office in Grand Forks merged with the local Service BC centre on Monday, Nov. 30, 2015.

Service BC delivers hundreds of government services and programs in person, online and over the phone to B.C. residents, businesses and visitors. Currently, 31 Service BC locations also successfully provide services to SDSI clients in British Columbia. The most recent Service BC location to integrate with SDSI is located in Victoria and began receiving clients in March 2015.

Quotes:

Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation, Michelle Stilwell –

“Integrating Service BC with SDSI offices will enhance service delivery for residents of Grand Forks. For example, all SDSI services will continue at the local Service BC centre with one important difference – front-line counter services for SDSI clients will be expanded from three to seven hours a day, which is great news for busy residents.”

Minister of Small Business, Red Tape Reduction & Responsible for the Liquor Distribution Branch, Coralee Oakes –

“Red tape can create unnecessary confusion so we are improving service delivery to save people time and frustration. Integrating Service BC centres with SDSI offices is a common-sense way of reducing red tape by making it easier and faster to access government services in communities across the province.”

Boundary-Similkameen MLA, Linda Larson –

“Consolidating the Grand Forks SDSI office with the local Service BC centre will benefit the community by providing SDSI clients with the ability to get the services they need at the same place they pay their BC Hydro bills, apply for a marriage licence and look for work, all in one convenient location.”

Quick Facts:

• The SDSI office in Grand Forks integrated with the local Service BC centre on November 30, 2015.
• In the new integrated location, partnering with Service BC will expand SDSI front counter services from the existing hours of 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (with a one-hour closure for lunch) Monday to Friday.
• There are currently 62 Service BC offices with 31 providing integrated Service BC/SDSI services.

Learn More:

Service BC: http://www.servicebc.gov.bc.ca/

Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation: http://ow.ly/S42OJ