NEWS RELEASE
DAVID ORAZIETTI, MPP
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New Polymer Certificates Easier to Verify and Harder to Forge
Ontario birth certificates will now be more durable and more difficult to counterfeit, thanks to a new polymer material and innovative security features announced David Orazietti MPP today.
“Our government is taking steps to improve personal security and reduce fraud by making Ontario’s birth certificates easier to verify and harder to counterfeit,” said Orazietti. “A birth certificate is one of our most important documents, and our new design and advanced security features will provide Ontarians with a more durable, secure piece of identification.”
Orazietti and Premier Kathleen Wynne unveiled the new Ontario birth certificates today at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.
Birth certificates are important documents used to obtain other ID and making them more secure will help prevent identity theft and fraud.
Orazietti in his role as Minister of Government and Consumer Services also serves as Ontario’s Registrar General and is responsible for signing all Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, and other vital statistic documents.
The polymer birth certificates have a variety of embedded security features, including raised print, transparent windows and colour-shifting images.
They are also more durable and easier to clean than the current paper certificates.
With normal use, they will last a person a lifetime.
The new design and material will not increase the cost of ordering a birth certificate.
Introducing new polymer birth certificates is one of a number of measures the government of Ontario is taking to improve personal security and reduce fraud and identity theft, which hurt individuals, businesses, taxpayers and the economy.
Quick Facts
- The new polymer birth certificates will be available starting April 15, 2015.
- Ontario issues about 200,000 birth certificates each year.
- Current birth certificates are still valid and do not need to be replaced.
- Parents can register their baby’s birth and apply for a birth certificate, Social Insurance Number and Canada child tax benefits at the same time using the 4-in-1 Newborn Bundle.
Learn More
Read more about the security features of Ontario's new birth certificates
Find out more about fees, processing and delivery times for birth certificates
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