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A new federal provincial automated benefit service that will give Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) parents the convenient option of applying for all child benefit programs when they register the birth of their newborn was announced today by Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of State (Agriculture and Agri-Food), and P.E.I.’s Minister of Health, the Honourable Doug Currie.

The new service started on October 9, 2009, and is the result of a partnership between the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and P.E.I.’s Vital Statistics Program.

“The CRA is committed to providing Canadians with tax and benefit services that are easy to use and cost-effective,” said Minister Blackburn. “The automated benefit application service provides parents of newborns with easier access to federal programs such as the Universal Child Care Benefit and the Canada Child Tax Benefit, as well as to related provincial programs.”

All new parents have to register the birth of a child – a registration of live birth form is provided to all new mothers when a baby is born.

“This new initiative offers a more streamlined and efficient way for Islanders to interact with both federal and provincial governments,” said the Honourable Minister Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

Now, new mothers who provide consent on the birth registration form will have their child’s birth information automatically released to the CRA through a secure communication network. The CRA will then process the application and determine the child’s eligibility for benefits. All applications will be processed within 80 days of receipt by the CRA.

“The arrival of a baby is exciting but can also be an overwhelming time for new parents,” said Minister Currie. “Our partnership with the Canada Revenue Agency demonstrates our commitment to providing new and improved services for Island families. Using one application form, which can be completed from the comfort of their hospital rooms, to access both provincial and federal services offers a big convenience to new parents.”

P.E.I. is the third province in Canada to offer the automated benefit application service. The Province is working to integrate an automatic application for a social insurance number into the birth registration form.

For more information on the integrated birth registration and the Canada Child Tax Benefit application process, please visit www.gov.pe.ca/vitalstatistics or call 902 838 0880 or 1 877 320 1253.

For more information and enquiries about Canada Child Tax Benefit payments, please visit www.cra.gc.ca/benefits or call 1-800-387-1193.