Knowledge, guidance, and resources to help
everyone access the identification they need.
Why Identification Matters
Your ID Opens Important Doors
Indigenous Elder Struggles to Renew Health Card
Mary is a 70-year old First Nations woman living in a fly-in First Nation in northern Ontario. Born in the bush in the 1950s, Mary’s birth was never registered and as a result, she has no birth certificate. Mary was previously able to obtain a health card using a baptismal certificate, however post-9/11 restrictions no longer allow for this. Mary did not realize her health card had expired until recently because she is now facing a health crises. Without a valid driver’s license, Mary cannot renew her health card online and she is forced to travel to a ServiceOntario centre in the south at great personal expense. At ServiceOntario, Mary is told she does not exist in the system because her birth was never registered. Until her birth is registered, Mary cannot get a new health card and is unable to access any age related benefits and supports.
Single Man recently released from Prison Without Personal Identification (PID)
After serving a 2-year sentence, John is released from an Ontario correctional facility. When he entered prison, his wallet and ID were placed in storage at the facility. Upon release, John finds that he is without valid ID. During his incarceration both his Ontario photo ID card and health card expired and his birth certificate was sent back to the issuing agency – a common practice. Now back in the community, John needs to find permanent housing, apply for Ontario Works, and renew his health card. John is told by the district Social Services Administration Board that he needs a valid piece of government issued ID. He tries to apply at ServiceOntario for a replacement birth certificate at a cost of $35. Unfortunately, John cannot complete the birth certificate applications because he does not know the birth dates of his parents and he has become estranged from his family.
Without essential ID, John finds himself unrecognized by the system he’s trying to re-enter.
Teen in Kinship Care Without ID
David, a 15-year-old youth in northwestern Ontario, has been raised by his aunt since birth. This arrangement was never formalized through the courts. David’s birth was not registered by his biological parents, who are out of contact and as a result, he has no birth certificate. As he approaches 16, David wants to get his learner’s permit and eventually a job, which will require a Social Insurance Number (SIN) and bank account. But without a birth certificate, he can’t get any of these. David needs to register his birth but does not know essential information about himself or his birth parents; nor is he able to locate them. David is unable to move forward.
Refugee Denied Social Assistance Due to No ID
Aref, a recent refugee claimant in Ontario, applies for Ontario Works to support his family. He fled his home country with almost no documents and cannot produce a birth certificate or passport. The intake worker asks for proof of his identity and age, typically a birth certificate or immigration papers but Aref has nothing official with him. He cannot apply to his home country for a birth certificate without jeopardizing his refugee status. His application is put on hold, leaving his family without income support.
Homeless Youth Barred from Housing Support
Jake is a 19-year-old in Thunder Bay who aged out of foster care and has been sleeping in shelters. He tries to apply for rent-geared-to-income housing in order to get a stable place to live. The housing application asks for proof of identity. Jake has no fixed address and no ID. His birth certificate remains in the possession of the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) and CAS expects Jake to apply for a replacement birth certificate on his own. Without ID, the housing office says they cannot process his application. He’s told to come back when he can provide a birth certificate or equivalent proof of identity for himself.
Newcomer Family Struggles to Enroll Child in School
The Chen family, newcomers who recently arrived in northwestern Ontario as refugee claimants, attempt to enroll their 6-year-old daughter in a local elementary school. At registration, the school requests proof of the child’s age and identity. In practice this usually means showing a birth certificate or passport for the child. The family’s documents are still with immigration authorities, and they have no birth certificate on hand for their daughter. The school office tells them enrollment will be delayed until they can provide a birth record or similar proof of age.
Delayed Registration of Birth and Missing Benefits and Healthcare
In a northern First Nations, a baby’s birth is not registered before their first birthday. After their second birthday, the family realizes they haven’t received any Canada Child Benefits for the baby. When they call about it, they are told the baby doesn’t exist in the system because his birth was never registered. The parents are also unable to apply for Indian status for the baby. The lack of a birth certificate is preventing the family from accessing income supports and health services for the baby, including non-insured health benefits which would allow the family to access necessary health services unavailable on-reserve.
Domestic Violence Survivor Rebuilding Life with No Documents
Sara escapes an abusive household with her two young children and finds safety at a women’s shelter in Thunder Bay. In fleeing, she left behind all their personal documents, her wallet, the kids’ birth certificates, health cards, and everything was either lost or destroyed by her abusive partner. As Sara begins to rebuild her life, she encounters roadblocks at every turn due to lack of ID. When she tries to open a new bank account so she can receive Ontario Works, the bank asks for two pieces of identification and proof of her address. She has none, so the bank refuses to open the account. Sara also attempts to apply for a subsidized daycare and is asked for her children’s birth certificates to prove their ages; she cannot provide them. Each step towards independence and securing housing, income, and childcare, is stalled by missing identification.