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May 25, 2009

Province Modernizes Legislation Governing Vital Events

Legislation introduced in the House of Assembly today will modernize three acts pertaining to vital events. The Vital Statistics Act, 2009, the Marriage Act, and the Change of Name Act, 2009, will replace outdated legislation. This comprehensive revision will ensure that policy issues, language and privacy requirements reflect today�s standards and practices.

"These important pieces of legislation include provisions that are already reflected in current policies that have been in place for some time and are supported in other laws," said the Honourable Kevin O�Brien, Minister of Government Services.

"Some of the changes, in particular with respect to protection of personal information and privacy issues, are already current practices," said Minister O�Brien. "The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador takes privacy concerns very seriously and the changes in these new acts reflect today�s standards for the protection of personal information. This is in keeping with previous departmental initiatives to protect privacy, such as introducing a more secure birth certificate in February 2008, and changing procedures for being able to obtain a certificate on someone�s behalf."

The Marriage Act, replacing the Solemnization of Marriage Act, will allow the minister to appoint marriage commissioners from outside the province on a temporary basis to perform ceremonies in special circumstances and will also provide for a number of updated protocols.

The Change of Name Act, 2009, will reduce residency requirements from six months to three months and add offences for fraud or misrepresentation.

"This department has made a significant effort to update older legislation over the last couple of years and these acts are a great example of that effort," said Minister O�Brien.

"While significant, many of the changes will not affect the day-to-day transactions that the public has with the Vital Statistics Division."

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Media contact:
Vanessa Colman-Sadd
Director of Communications
Department of Government Services
709-729-4860, 682-6593
vanessacolmansadd@gov.nl.ca

2009 05 25                                                     4:15 p.m.
 


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