A local MPP is trying to ease the minds of some residents who’ve been concerned about the impending closure of the Service Ontario office in Chatham. 
The last service provider has retired, leaving some uncertainty about access to provincial services. However, MPP Rick Nicholls says that while the Grand Avenue East location is now closed for inventory, it’s expected a new operator will be in place and have the office reopened by the end of the week.
As far as who that operator will be, Mayor Darrin Canniff has confirmed to CKXS the municipality will be running the Chatham office until the next RFP (request for proposals) phase, although an exact date for that has not been announced.
Canniff says the municipality oversees the Dresden ServiceOntario outlet, and says “that works very well.”
Last month a notice was posted saying the office on Grand Avenue East would be shutting down, effective August 26th, but Nicholls and other provincial officials intervened to maintain the status quo until the end of September.
