Is YOUR address up to date with Service Ontario?

Is YOUR address up to date with Service Ontario?
By: Sylvia Jones, MPP Dufferin-Caledon

Has your address recently changed as a result of Canada Post’s postal code changes? If so, update your address information with ServiceOntario. This is important as the province is in the process of replacing the old red and white health cards by sending letters to card holders informing them that they must obtain the province’s new photo health card in order to continue receiving OHIP coverage. Ontarians who have not updated their mailing address information with ServiceOntario may find that their health care coverage has expired and risk not receiving the notification.

If you have moved or experienced changes to your address and have not notified ServiceOntario, you will miss notifications sent by ServiceOntario. Both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Transportation rely on ServiceOntario to notify you in writing when important information needs to be communicated about your health card, driver’s licence, parking permit or vehicle permit. Failure to receive to notices from ServiceOntario can be very costly (in payments for service, fines or tickets) and inconvenient. Even if you have a Canada Post mail forwarding service, mail may still be sent to your old address. For example, Canada Post will not forward parcels, prepaid envelopes and international registered mail. That is why it is important to keep your information up-to-date.

My office has helped many individuals who are having difficulty in obtaining or renewing a health card, driver’s licence, or vehicle permit. In many cases we are able to discover what led to the problem and work with the Ministry of Government Services to resolve the issue with provincial ID and vehicle permits.

To update your address information for your health card, driver’s licence or vehicle permit, simply visit a ServiceOntario Centre (In Dufferin-Caledon we have locations in Bolton, Orangeville and Shelburne) or go online: www.ontario.ca/page/serviceontario. Ensure you have the necessary documentation before you go. A full list of documentation requirements can be found on the ServiceOntario website. If you have need further assistance with a health card, driver’s licence or vehicle permit please contact my office at
sylvia.jonesco@pc.ola.org or 1-800-265-1603.