ServiceOntario centres to open in six Staples Canada stores this week [Video]

The Ontario government says ServiceOntario centres are expected to open in six Staples Canada stores at the beginning of February, the first attempt at a plan to make the service centre more accessible for Ontario residents.

Public and Business Service Delivery Minister Todd McCarthy officially made the announcement Monday morning, saying the model is projected to save approximately $1 million over the duration of the three-year pilot.

However, McCarthy would not explicitly share the total price of the pilot project.

“Do you realize it sounds shady that you are not giving us an answer? I congratulate our Ministry officials for their professionalism, for their dedication, for looking for cost savings,” said McCarthy.

“Professionalism is giving the taxpayers the cost amount. So the savings as I indicated. Not the savings. and the savings are a million dollars over the next three years.”

Six ServiceOntario centres closed and instead opened locations in Staples Canada in Oakville, Welland, Newmarket, Toronto, Strathroy, and Tillsonburg.

The government says a Staples Canada location in Hamilton won’t see the addition of a ServiceOntario centre until later this year.

It comes as 134 remaining privately operated stand-alone ServiceOntario locations see their contracts get closer to the expiry date.

The government is working to determine whether those locations should continue operations in the same way or closed and moved into other types of locations.

The new centres are expected to increase service hours by 30 per cent due to extended operating hours.

The Ontario government boasts many advantages to the Staples Canada locations, such as access to retail services, readily available parking, and access to public transit routes.

“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,” Staples Canada President Rachel Huckle said.

Ontario’s NDP is concerned that this is a benefit to the Ford government’s corporate friends and will help increase profits of the American-owned company at the expense of Ontarians.

“How is this saving money/ Who asked for this? They could clear all of this up by releasing the business case if they have one, and making the contracts public. That’s what our leader Marit Stiles, and the official opposition NDP are calling for.” said NDP representative Tom Rakocevic.

The three-year deal with Staples is worth $10.2 million for operating, labour and one-time retrofit costs.

The expansion of ServiceOntario locations is set to continue, including more co-locations with municipalities and First Nations communities.

Residents could also eventually find them in public libraries and other retail partners.

With files from The Canadian Press.