A Call to Action: Eliminate Systemic Barriers to Obtaining and Keeping Ontario Birth Certificates

This reports outlines six calls to action to address the long-term consequences of people living without birth certificates and other forms of personal identification. It calls for

1. The elimination of all fees for all types of birth certificates.
2. The simplification of birth certificate applications. 
3. The elimination of the guarantor requirement on the Ontario birth certificate application.
4. Recognition by all ministries of kinship agreements or customary care agreements.
5. Birth certificates to stay with people in care or custody so that ID travels with individuals and they do not lose possession of their ID upon transfer or release.
6. Smaller and more durable birth certificates like those previously used by the Ontario government so that people without safe places to store the document can carry them on their person again. 

These calls to action are informed by research conducted at Lakehead University in partnership with the Kinna-Aweya Legal Clinic, NorWest Community Health Centres, and the ID Action Group of Thunder Bay.