Service NL
November 8, 2017

Provincial Government Removing Medical Note Requirement for Gender Neutral Birth Certificate Applications

Legislation which proposes removing the requirement to provide a written statement from a designated professional when applying for a change of sex designation on a birth certificate received Second Reading in the House of Assembly today.

Service NL made a policy change in September to allow individuals to choose an X on their birth certificate. The amendment to the Vital Statistics Act, which is being debated today, would eliminate the requirement to submit a statement from a designated professional for those 16 years of age and older. No changes are being made for applications related to children under age 16.

Information pertaining to the sex of an individual will continue to be collected at birth after the amendments to the act have been made. This is necessary as personal health service decisions and gender aggregated data are important for informing government policy and programs such as that related to medications or treatments that differ for each sex.

Service NL does not charge a fee to apply for a gender neutral birth certificate; however, applications must be notarized by a notary public. The fee to obtain an official copy of a birth certificate is $35.

Quote
“This amendment is part of our government’s continuing efforts to embrace and celebrate the diversity of all people in Newfoundland and Labrador. This is a positive and progressive step forward and by making this legislative change, our province will be a national leader when it comes to recognizing different genders.”
Honourable Sherry Gambin-Walsh
Minister of Service NL

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Learn More
Changing Your Sex Designation:
www.servicenl.gov.nl.ca/birth/changing_your_sex_designation/

Ministerial Statement - Government Moving Forward with Gender Neutral Birth Certificates - www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/servicenl/1017n01.aspx

Provincial Government Moving Forward with Gender Neutral Birth Certificates - www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/servicenl/0921n05.aspx

Legislative Amendment Respects Rights of Transgender Individuals - www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2016/servicenl/0412n06.aspx

Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL and @ServiceNL_

Media contact
Gina MacArthur
Service NL
709-729-4748, 730-2977
ginamacarthur@gov.nl.ca

2017 11 08                              1:55 p.m.