HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, August 5, 2009 — Parents of newborns may now register the birth of their newborn and apply for their child's Social Insurance Number (SIN) and Canada Child Benefits using only one application form.
The new service which was made possible through a partnership among the Province of Nova Scotia, Service Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) was announced today by the Honourable Ramona Jennex, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations and Gerald Keddy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of State (Agriculture and Agri-Food).
"I am proud that Nova Scotia is the first province to introduce this service for its citizens," says Minister Jennex. "It is always good when we can come up with ways to make life easier for parents who already have to deal with a lot of things that come with having a new baby in the family."
With this initiative, parents simply need to sign the Release of Information section on the new Registration of Live Birth form, providing their consent for Service Nova Scotia to send their child's birth registration information to Service Canada and the CRA. Each federal organization will process their respective applications.
"The Government of Canada is pleased with the result of this collaboration between the federal and provincial governments that brings more timely and efficient services to the people of Nova Scotia," said Parliamentary Secretary Gerald Keddy. "With this new integrated service, parents of newborns will face less red tape when applying for benefits and services from both levels of government."
Easy access to Social Insurance Numbers for newborns makes it simpler for parents to open a Registered Education Savings Plan and then apply for benefits from the Government of Canada for their child, such as the Canada Education Savings Grant and Canada Learning Bond.
Applying early for Canada Child Benefits ensures that parents receive the credit and benefit payments to which they are entitled on time and in the right amount.
Applications for Social Insurance Numbers and Canada Child Benefits can still be made directly to Service Canada and CRA, respectively.
For more information on the integrated birth registration, SIN and Canada Child Benefits application process, visit www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/vstat or call (902)424-4381 or toll-free at 1-877-848-2578.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Parents of newborns may now register the birth of their newborn babies and apply for their child's Social Insurance Number and Canada Child Benefits using only one application form.
Nova Scotia is the first province in Canada to introduce this new service, which is made possible through a partnership among the Province, Service Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency.
Minister Ramona Jennex of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations says she is pleased that government can come up with ways to make life easier for parents who already have to deal with a lot of things that come with a new baby in the family.
Gerald Keddy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade, also commented that the Government of Canada is pleased with the result of this collaboration between the federal and provincial governments that brings more timely and efficient services to the people of Nova Scotia. With this new integrated service, parents of newborns will face less red tape when applying for benefits and services from both levels of government.
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For more information, please contact:
Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
Angel Limgenco
902-722-1461
limgenaa@gov.ns.ca
Media information:
Office of Minister Finley
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
819-994-2482
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
National Media Relations Office
819-994-5559
Canada Revenue Agency
Roy Jamieson
Communications
902-426-6310
