Not long ago. It was in late Jan this year, at Calgary downtown. I just saw there were more than 80 persons in the line, but of cause not all of them were for the passport application. It was a Service Canada, it offered other services there for sure. I was just thinking, if I were joining the line, it would be a long time of waiting.How long ago was this? Which office or metro area?
Not contradicting you, just last I'd heard/followed the lines early am had mostly disappeared (or at least declined to really modest numbers). Mind when I did the first time, it was a couple hundred people by opening at 8.30, and those arriving after about 10 am were being told no chance that day.
BTW, you can read the reviews about the wait time on Google map.