April 2, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA Effective April 2, 2007, British Columbia parents of newborns will be able to use a single application form to apply for both their child's birth certificate and Social Insurance Number (SIN). The joint initiative was announced today by the Honourable Monte Solberg, federal Minister of Human Resources and Social Development and British Columbia Health Minister George Abbott.
"New parents have enough to think about when a baby arrives and don't need the added pressure of having to fill out a lot of forms," said Minister Solberg. "I'm pleased that Canada's New Government has been able to collaborate with the Government of British Columbia to streamline the birth certificate and SIN application process, which will provide assistance to families."
This initiative builds on the measures Canada 's New Government has already introduced including:
the Working Families Tax Plan which provides parents with a Child Tax Benefit, as well as a strengthened Registered Education Savings Plan program;
the Universal Childcare Benefit under which parents have been receiving cheques for their children aged 6 years or less since July 2006; and
the Children's Fitness Tax Credit-effective since January 1, 2007 -to help with expenses related to students' registration.
There are approximately 40,000 birth registrations in British Columbia each year. The province requires the birth of every newborn to be registered with the British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency within 30 days. With the Newborn Registration Service, after the birth registration is completed, the information will be sent to Service Canada, which is responsible for issuing SINs to Canadians. The child's SIN card will be delivered within five business days at no cost.
"The Newborn Registration Service offers parents the convenience of applying for their child's SIN with the federal government at the same time as registering their child's birth with the province," said Minister Abbott. "An important consideration in developing this new service was to ensure that parents' and newborns' information is protected."
The British Columbia Information and Privacy Commissioner support the new SIN application option. Adding the SIN application to the birth registration package complies with the provincial Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act and ensures the protection and security of all SIN information.
A SIN is required to access social benefits from the Government of Canada such as the Registered Education Savings Plan, Canada Learning Bond and Canada Education Savings Grant. Children will also need a SIN when they eventually apply for a job and pay income tax. A birth certificate is required for many other federal and provincial services.
Service Canada is the Government of Canada's new service delivery network. It brings a range of federal government services and benefits together to meet the needs of Canadians. Its goal is to provide easy access, personalized, one-stop service to more Canadians within their communities.
For more information on the Newborn Registration Service, parents can visit the BC Vital Statistics Agency Web site at www.vs.gov.bc.ca or the Service Canada Web site at servicecanada.gc.ca.
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This news release is available in alternative formats, on request. Call 1 800 788-8282 on a touch-tone phone, or through a teletypewriter (TTY).
For more information (media only) :
Marisa Adair, Communications Director
Ministry of Health
(250) 920-8500 Cell
(250) 952-1887 Media line
Media Relations
Service Canada
(819) 994-5559
General Public :
1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232)
ATS : 1 800 926-9105
servicecanada.gc.ca
Backgrounder
JOINT SERVICE CANADA / BRITISH COLUMBIA VITAL STATISTICS AGENCY INITIATIVE
NEWBORN REGISTRATION SERVICE
As of April 2, 2007, the Government of British Columbia (BC) and Service Canada will begin to bundle services for parents of newborns. This partnership will make life easier for parents of the more than 40,000 babies born in BC each year.
Under the Newborn Registration Service, parents in BC can now register the birth of their baby, and apply for a birth certificate and Social Insurance Number (SIN) at the same time through one application. This new approach means they don't have to go to two separate government offices to obtain important documents for their baby. It's simple, convenient and secure.
The birth of every newborn must be registered with the BC Vital Statistics Agency within 30 days.
When the baby is born, the healthcare provider will give parents a birth registration package containing the Registration of Live Birth application form along with information about birth registration, the birth certificate and SIN. The Registration of Live Birth application form is available on the BC Vital Statistics Agency Web site, and more information is available by phone at 250-952-2681.
Parents are first asked to fill out the Registration of Live Birth form, providing all the required correct information, and mail or bring the form to any BC Vital Statistics office. If they have requested a SIN for their child, once the birth registration is completed, the Newborn Registration Service ensures that the necessary personal information is sent electronically to Service Canada, which is responsible for issuing SINs. The child's SIN card will then be delivered within five business days at no cost. In general, if the Registration of Live Birth form is filled out correctly, the entire process can be done in three to four weeks.
A SIN is required to access social benefits from the Government of Canada such as the Registered Education Savings Plan, Canada Learning Bond and Canada Education Savings Grant. Children will also need a SIN when they eventually apply for a job and pay income tax. A birth certificate is required for other federal and provincial services such as medical coverage, registering for school, and applying for a passport. A birth certificate is a person's most important official identification document and shows the legal name and proof that the child was born in British Columbia .
For more information on the Newborn Registration Service, parents can visit the British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency Web site at: www.vs.gov.bc.ca or the Service Canada Web site at: servicecanada.gc.ca.
