Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (June 24/05) - With identity theft being a real issue nowadays, a Fort Simpson man is questioning whether the government is effectively combatting the problem or adding to it.

Nic Larter returned these birth certificates and a social insurance card to their rightful owners in Ontario after they were sent to him in error by the federal government. - Derek Neary/NNSL photo

A little over a month ago, Nic Larter applied for social insurance cards for his three children and received them in the mail. However, he also discovered that one of the envelopes from the Social Development Canada processing centre in Bathurst, New Brunswick, also contained a social insurance card for an Ontario girl as well as her original birth certificate and that of her father.

"I'm sure it's an honest mistake," Larter said.

"But the problem is even if there's a one-in-a-thousand chance of these (pieces of identification) getting lost, misplaced or sent to the wrong place, trying to get one of them back now is like pulling teeth."

Sylvie Lecompte, with Social Development Canada in Ottawa, said that the mix-up occurred due to human error. The department takes the complaint very seriously, she said.

As for why original documents must be included in applications, Lecompte said it's required to guard against fraud and abuse.

Larter asked why the documents can't be tracked through the mail, obligating the recipient sign upon arrival. Lecompte noted that it would be prohibitive to assume such costs because the federal department processes more than 1.2 million social insurance number applications per year. This is the only known mistake of its kind in 2005, she added.

Larter phoned the Ontario family, who reside near London, and told them he would mail the documents directly to them in an express envelope, which he has since done.

"I guess he's been waiting, wondering where his (mail) was.

"This guy, if I hadn't said anything, he would never have known the wiser," Larter said. "With our government requiring so much raw information, that's where the problem lies."

Lecompte said Social Development Canada will follow up with the Ontario family to ensure everything is fine. She added that the department will reimburse Larter the mailing charges if he provides a receipt.