Parents of newborns in Saskatchewan should have an easier time filling out paperwork after the birth of their child.
The provincial and federal governments are working together to help streamline the process of filling out forms related to babies. One new simplified form — called the Registration of Live Birth form — will allow parents to register the birth of their child, and also apply for related government services like Social Insurance Numbers, Saskatchewan Health Cards, Canada Child Benefits, and Saskatchewan Birth Certificates.
eHealth Saskatchewan is helping to roll the new process out. CEO Susan Antosh said things will be far easier now for mom and dad than they were before.
“But it certainly was a lot more complicated because you needed to go to multiple locations. We weren’t able to send the information. Now we have consent from the parents to send the information on their behalf and so it makes it much, much easier for them. They don’t need to run around,” she explained.
It’s all great news for new mother Ashley Powell, whose daughter Evelyn Rose Bates was born one week ago.
“To have to waste a complete day to have to go around and do all that, especially when you’re so tired, you’re trying to figure out breastfeeding and you’re trying to get in the hang of having a new little person in your life. It saves so much time,” she said.
The Registration of Live Birth form is available in health care facilities across Saskatchewan.