Canadian Bureacratic nonsense

I want a copy of my “long form” Canadian birth certificate (I was born in Toronto, Ontario), but in order to receive this document, I have to jump through several bureaucratic hoops. Including this one:

If you are applying for a birth certificate for an individual nine years of age or older, guarantor information is required.

A guarantor is someone who has known you (the applicant) personally for at least 2 years during your life, is a Canadian citizen, and is currently serving in or a practicing member in good standing of one of the professions listed below.

The role of the guarantor is to certify that information provided on a birth certificate application is as complete and accurate as possible. If required, a qualified guarantor must also be available to verify the information with the Office of the Registrar General.

[From Do I have a valid guarantor for my birth certificate?-School & Work – Gateway for Individuals – Government of Ontario (Canada)]

Parliament Buildings in Victoria

From my perspective, this list is very socio-economic class bigoted. While the list of “acceptable” occupations is broad, I don’t understand why only professional class individuals are allowed to “vouch” for me. If you are a carpenter, or a graphic designer, your word is worth shite to the Ontario government. I assume these additional stipulations were added as part of the United States government’s export of Terrorism Theatre, coming to a town hall near you!

These are the professions who are deemed acceptable to the Canadian (Ontario) government:

  • Chief of a band recognized under the Indian Act (Canada)
  • Chiropractor
  • Dentist
  • First Nations police officer
  • Judge
  • Justice of the Peace
  • Lawyer
  • Mayor
  • Member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario (MPP)
  • Midwife
  • Minister of religion authorized under provincial law to perform marriages
  • Municipal clerk or treasurer (a member of the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario)
  • Notary public
  • Nurse
  • Optometrist
  • Pharmacist
  • Physician
  • Police officer (Municipal, Provincial, RCMP)
  • Principal or Vice-Principal (primary or secondary school)
  • Professional accountant
  • Professional engineer
  • Psychologist
  • Senior administrator (community college or in a CEGEP)
  • Senior administrator or professor in a university
  • Signing officer of a bank, caisse d’économie, caisse populaire, credit union or trust company.
  • Social worker or social service worker
  • Surgeon
  • Teacher in a primary or secondary school
  • Veterinarian

So what if I don’t know a doctor, lawyer or Indian chief?

More importantly, are any of you members of these preferred occupations?

2 thoughts on “Canadian Bureacratic nonsense

  1. Marie says:

    That is ridiculous. Did you try contacting the U.S. Consulate in Toronto? Or better, Dick Durbin’s office in Chicago. Just a thought.

    Too bad photographer isn’t a listed occupation. We could probably round up a couple Flickrites to vouch for you.

  2. Yeah, exactly, what are the rules for deciding what is a *reliable* occupation? I’d rather have a Flickr-ite vouch for me than some Justice of the Peace.

    I’m sure I’ll find somebody, I was just publicly kvetching.

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