Getting over the hurdle
Lotte mosaic by Fabio Bruna
You’ve just had your baby, and already the Government of Canada is stepping in to make sure he or she turns out to be a dutiful citizen: you will be issued a temporary Health Card for your baby in the hospital, as well as a hospital card for any subsequent visits your baby makes to the hospital.
You will also receive a Maternal Discharge Summary with instructions on basic baby care, as well as a Newborn Record with key information on your baby’s weight and length and other vitals.
When you go home, it is recommended that you register your baby’s birth immediately, to make sure you don’t miss out on any benefits. In one easy step, you can go online to apply for a birth certificate, a SIN number (so baby can get earning right away – or so you can put money aside in an RESP for his or her future education), and of course, Canada Child Benefits; whether you think you will qualify for the benefits or not, every family in Toronto gets a basic monthly amount for having a baby and the stipend goes up from there depending on income levels. All this baby registering can be done online; you will need a credit card to pay a minimal amount for the birth certificate.
Note that if you were not born in Canada, you will receive a letter shortly after your online application is processed, asking you to clarify your immigration status, and that of your spouse if applicable, before you can qualify for any government child benefits.
Before leaving the hospital with your newborn, if circumcision is an issue be sure to book the procedure as there is a time limit for having this done and typically the procedures are only performed during certain times. Circumcision isn’t covered by OHIP.
