Petition to keep Service Ontario location in County Fair Mall may be futile

THUNDER BAY -- A Service Ontario location on the city's North side isn't closing but it could be moving.

Located in the Country Fair Mall, the current private Service Ontario provider's contract runs out in November and wasn't successful in renewing it. Ministry of Government and Consumer Services spokesperson Anne-Marie Flanagan said that location will remain open until November.

"In the meantime Service Ontario will be procuring a new service provider for the North part of Thunder Bay as soon as possible," she said.

Whether the location stays the same is up to the provider's rental agreements. But there will be no disruption to service. Thunder Bay will continue to have three Service Ontario locations.

"That's something that will have to be determined. They may be in a different location," she said.

Alynne Harel works near the County Fair location and has started a petition, which has more than 800 signatures so far, to keep the office open. She said many seniors centres in the area need the service.

"They rely on services being close to home," she said.