I figured it would be as simple as you come in, you apply for the Nova Scotia stuff, they take your BC stuff and they give you Nova Scotia stuffShe says.

This was not the case. His BC Health Card was not sufficient proof of Canadian citizenship. Louise Wallace, 61, was born in the United Kingdom and obtained Canadian citizenship in 1976.

So she called the British Columbia Department of Health. She requested that the documents she used to apply for provincial insurance there be sent to Nova Scotia.

Her application was denied and instead she faced a series of appeals through provincial health officials and federal immigration officials.

Louise Wallace British Columbia Department of Health officials later told her that she did not have access to copies of her documents for security reasons. confidentiality of information.

The Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness advises that applicants for a provincial health card must submit documents such as a Canadian birth certificate, valid Canadian passport, Canadian citizenship, or immigration documents to support their application.

A valid Medicare card from another province is not sufficient.

Louise Wallace was surprised at the lack of communication between provincial health systems on identity. She wants Canadians to be able to simply swap out one provincial card for another when they move, rather than starting the application from scratch.

I really wish this happened to someone who could actually turn things around and eliminate such a terrible logistical problemShe says.

She doesn’t know exactly where her citizenship papers are, as she kept most of her belongings in New Brunswick when she and her husband moved from British Columbia while looking for housing.

She plans to request another copy of her citizenship certificate for her application, but it may take months.

The Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness sent out an email statement partially reflecting this It is the resident’s responsibility to apply for a health card in a new province or territory.

With information from Danielle Edwards from CBC