900 series SIN cards to get expiry dates

Proposed changes to Employment Insurance Regulations to Introduce expiry dates on 900-series Social Insurance Numbers
Ottawa, Ontario – Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) announced that proposed changes to the Employment Insurance Regulations to introduce expiry dates on all 900-series Social Insurance Numbers (SINs) are being pre-published in the Canada Gazette Part 1 today for a 30-day public consultation period ending on January 20, 2003.
This measure will help strengthen the integrity of the SIN and protect the security of all Canadians.
SINs that begin with the number 9 are issued to people who are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents, and who need a SIN for employment purposes or to comply with other authorized uses, such as income tax filing. Holders of these SINs include temporary foreign workers, foreign students and refugee claimants. Under the new proposal, these SINs will be valid until the end of the person’s authorized stay in Canada to a maximum of five years. Existing 900-series SIN holders will have one year in which to reapply for a SIN before these numbers are deactivated.
HRDC continues to work with other federal partners , such as the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency and Citizenship an Immigration Canada, to ensure that public safety and security remain paramount and that Canadians’ SIN-related needs are met.
Comments regarding this proposal can be addressed to JIm Little, Policy and Legislation Development, Insurance Branch, Human Resources Development Canada, 9th Floor, 140 Promenade du Portage, Hull, Quebec, K1A 0J9.
For more information on the Social Insurance Number Program, visit the HRDC Web site at www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/sin.