Carney's staff say search is on for a local office that meets his security needs

Prime Minister Mark Carney's office says work is "well underway" to find a local constituency office in his suburban Ottawa riding that meets his security requirements.

As first reported this week by the Ottawa Citizen, Carney still doesn't have an office in his Nepean riding more than 100 days after the spring election.

"The process to confirm an office that meets all security requirements and is conveniently located and accessible for constituents is well underway," said Emily Williams, the Prime Minister's Office director of media relations, in an emailed response.

She said that until the local office is set up, residents of Nepean can access federal services through Defence Minister David McGuinty's office, which is in the neighbouring riding of Ottawa South.

Carney, whose campaign's riding headquarters was set up in a Nepean office park, will be the last member of his own cabinet to list a local riding office in the House of Commons directory.

Constituency offices act as a sort of doormat to democracy, allowing residents to connect with their local elected representatives.

Members of Parliament employ local staff at these offices who can help citizens navigate government bureaucracy to access federal services.

Liberal MP Bruce Fanjoy, who represents the Ottawa riding of Carleton, is in the process of moving out of the constituency office he took over from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who lost the riding in an upset in the April election.

Fanjoy said he is not renewing the old lease because he found the office space was too small for his staff of six.