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SIN and birth registration easier for parents with newborns

Alberta parents now have an easier time when it comes to birth registration for their newborns and SIN applications. The province of Alberta has made it so that these parents can now use a single application form to register their child’s birth and apply for their child’s Social Insurance Number at the same time.

Alberta parents now have an easier time when it comes to birth registration for their newborns and SIN applications. The province of Alberta has made it so that these parents can now use a single application form to register their child’s birth and apply for their child’s Social Insurance Number at the same time.

Minister of State Rob Merrifield announced this new initiative on behalf of Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Diane Finley, and Minister of Service Alberta Heather Klimchuk.

Klimchuk expressed in a press release that this new initiative will be more convenient for parents when registering their new child.

“Now, when Alberta parents register the birth of their newborn, they can also choose to apply for a Social Insurance Number,” said Klimchuk. “Using one form to access both provincial and federal services will be a benefit to families.”

In Alberta there are about 50,000 birth registrations each year and the province required that every newborn child be registered with Service Alberta within 10 days. After the birth registration is completed, with the Newborn Registration Service, the information that is filled out will be sent electronically to Service Canada. The SIN card will be delivered to the applicant within 15 business days at no cost.

The SIN application as part of the province’s birth registration form is optional. It is a safe and secure process complying with the Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act that protects all SIN information.

“This is good news about how our federal and provincial governments are working in partnership to provide better services by making it simpler for parents to access benefits for their children,” said Merrifield. “I am very pleased with this partnership between Service Canada and the Government of Alberta to streamline the birth registration and SIN application processes.”

A SIN is required for social benefits from the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta. It accesses the Registered Education Savings Plan, the Canada Learning Bond, the Canada Education Savings Grant, and the Alberta Centennial Education Savings Grant. Eventually, when one wants to apply for a job in Canada they will need a SIN in order to get one and pay income tax.