WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, June 21, 2011—The Honourable Vic Toews, Canada’s Minister of Public Safety and Regional Minister for Manitoba, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, and the Honourable Gord Mackintosh, Manitoba Minister of Family Services and Consumer Affairs, announced that a new, integrated newborn registration and application process will be available early in July.
“As part of our ongoing efforts in partnership with Manitoba, to improve services offered to Canadian families, we have reduced administrative formalities and are now able to provide parents with a simple, one-step way to register the birth of their child and to apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) and Canada Child Benefits,” said Minister Toews.
“With the new birth registration form, we are reducing the steps parents need to take when their child is born,” said Minister Mackintosh. “Thanks to this integrated service, parents can now register with both the province and the federal government on a single form, which just makes sense.”
Through the integrated service, new parents can complete one application and access multiple services for their newborn babies. Parents provide their consent on the “Registration of Birth” form to release their child’s birth information to Service Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency. This optional service makes it simpler for parents to apply for their child’s SIN, which allows them 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 the Canada Learning Bond. And, 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.
The new forms and information packages will be distributed to hospitals, birthing centres and midwives later this month, and the service will be available in early July 2011.
For more information on the integrated process for birth registration, SIN application and Canada Child Benefits, visit the Manitoba Vital Statistics Agency at http://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca or call 204-945-3701 or 1-866-949-9296 (toll-free) once the service is available (July 2011).
For more information regarding this new service, visit the CRA website at www.cra.gc.ca/aba, or for general inquiries about Canada Child Benefits payments, call 1-800-387-1193.
For more information on Service Canada, please call us at 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232) or 1-800-926-9105 if you use a teletypewriter (TTY). You can also visit us online at www.servicecanada.gc.ca or in person at over 600 points of service in communities throughout Canada.
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This news release is available in alternative formats on request.
For further information (media only):
Ann Matejicka
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
Glen Cassie
Communication Services Manitoba
204-945-0750
