Health and Social Services

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Yukon adopts new birth certificate

For Release # 10-141
July 30, 2010

WHITEHORSE – As of today, Yukon joins other Canadian jurisdictions in adopting a new, standardized, more secure and durable birth certificate.

The new certificate has a standardized design and security features that make it one of the most secure birth certificates in the world. It was designed by the Canadian Bank Note Company Ltd. working with the Canadian Vital Statistics Council and was approved by all Canadian jurisdictions. The new design has features to minimize identity theft, forgeries, and loss.

“A birth certificate is a primary identification document,” Health and Social Services Glenn Hart said. “It is used to obtain everything from a social insurance number to a passport. It’s important to protect it in every way we can.”

The Vital Statistics Council for Canada has a mandate to develop, strengthen, and support the Canadian system of vital statistics. As one of the 13 provincial/territorial representatives on the council, the Government of Yukon worked with the council and identity experts to develop this highly secure birth certificate.

The Yukon government made one change to the standard certificate by ensuring that same sex parents could be reflected on the certificate.