This is my daughter Rachel. She is 12. Typical Twelve year old most days but don’t let that deceive you. She is caught up in a mountain of Canadian red tape. You see my dear daughter was born in the United States: Carlsbad New Mexico to be exact. Well after my divorce some 12 years ago I brought her home to Canada. We crossed the border no issues..after all she is a Canadian Citizen as I her natural mother am a Canadian citizen born here in Toronto as was my father and grandfather and so on.
Where the problem begins is that I only had 1 piece of ID for her. Her birth certificate that lists me as her mother. I have a certified copy of her social security number but not her card as the United States will not issue a card unless you are there in person. Rachel can not cross the border to get it, we tried to get it at the Canadian Consulate here in Toronto: that was a no go. Without her citizenship card Rachel has become a Canadian without rights:
- in Ontario they will not issue her a health card, meaning no health coverage.
- in Ontario she does not qualify for welfare with out that card meaning me her mother would get NO benefits for her.
Can you see how this might create a problem? Right now I am out of work and waiting on an EI claim so I applied. Today I was told they have to remove Rachel from my claim until I have that card, until I have proof of her immigration status well there is not immigration status as SHE is CANADIAN. So instead of getting $813…I am getting $413. Because of course they still had to take off the child support.Can you sense my frustration as I feel trapped in a mire of red tape. If you believe in prayer please pray for Rachel and me, that somehow we can finally break through the red tape. As well pray that I figure out a way to get an extra $400 within the next 7 days before my rent is due as I don’t think I can work a miracle status wise in that time frame. I need to find work and find it fast. I am a Jill of all trades so I am hoping that the 40 or so resumes I have out there turn up something.
