With less than a week to go before the start of the Arctic Winter Games, Service Canada has confirmed that all Team Nunavut athletes have had their passports approved in time for the circumpolar sporting event.

Nunavut MP Lori Idlout and her office are taking credit for helping to expedite the process.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is a huge relief for families, as dozens of applications were sitting in bureaucratic limbo,SA国际影视传媒� Idlout stated on March 6. SA国际影视传媒淢y office assisted with over 100 passport applications since NovemberSA国际影视传媒� I am proud of the Nunavut athletes who will be competing in the Games.

SA国际影视传媒淭his should not have been so difficult. There are many barriers present in Nunavut, like not having access to forms in Inuktitut or finding a passport photographer in remote communities,SA国际影视传媒� the MP added. SA国际影视传媒淚 hope this will serve as a wake-up call to the government so they will improve federal services in the North.SA国际影视传媒�

A special Service Canada team was assigned to Nunavut in order to finalize the remaining applications with the office of federal CitizensSA国际影视传媒� Services Minister Terry Beech.

The Arctic Winter Games will take place in Matsu, Alaska, from March 11-16, and will include about 300 members from Team Nunavut.