Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is launching the first phase of what is being hailed as a faster, easier way for First Nations youth to apply for registration under the Indian Act at in-person service locations. The new process is said to help streamline appointments and bring down the time required per application by at least half.
Under the new program, eligible children 15 years old or younger will be able to finish their registration application digitally during in-person visits at service locations across the country. The pilot is starting in Gatineau, Quebec, and is said to eventually expand to all other points of service across the country.
Under the new pilot’s first phase, both parents must be listed on the child’s proof of birth document and come to the service kiosk at the time of their appointment, and bring valid government-issued ID. In the next phases of the pilot, registration applications will be added for:
Phase 2: Children 15 or younger with at least one parent listed on the proof of birth document.
Phase 3: Children 15 or younger applying through legal guardians, adoptive parents, or Child and Family Services.
Phase 4: Adults 16 or older applying on their own behalf.
Phase 5: Dependent adults 16 or older applying through parents, guardians, or other representatives.
This next step uses the Digital Application Services (DAS), an innovative platform launched in 2022 that offers faster digital solutions for secure status card applications and renewals. Available across all ISC points of service, the DAS has proven to be very cost-effective and significantly reduced application wait times by streamlining the process for applicants—cutting appointment durations and enabling faster delivery of secure status cards.
“Our government is focused on offering modernized, more effective services that better meet the needs of First Nations communities. By making in-person registration applications under the Indian Act faster and easier, we are reducing barriers and improving access. I look forward to expanding this innovative service so more people benefit from a streamlined experience.”
The Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty
Minister of Indigenous Services
Over 104,000 secure status card and renewal requests have been submitted digitally using the Digital Application Services since 2022.
Comments