The Secret Document
Welcome to Willow’s weekly coffee and tea garden. My name is Paul; I’ll be your barista today. I’m happy to see you have come for a cuppa and a chat. Please come into the garden and make yourself comfortable. Willow fluffed the cushions on the chairs and set the tables in the garden so we can have a cuppa and chat as we soak up the sun and enjoy the beautiful plants. As usual, I’d be pleased to bring a pot of whatever beverage you prefer – we have a wide range of teas and coffees to satisfy our world-wide readership. Also available is a large selection of spirits for addition to your cuppa or in its place. We can relax amongst the flowers while we discuss the affairs of the week both personal and/or worldwide. How has your week been?
Government Health Card
Canadian Driver’s Liecence
So, I finally had to bite the bullet this week and brave the halls of government to change my address officially on my Health Card and Driver’s License. I’ve been putting this off since I moved because I always feel inadequate or don’t have a document that is absolutely required. Quite honestly (and don’t rat me out) I’ve sometimes gone years without changing addresses officially. What’s different this time, you ask? Weeeeell, I got a notification (at the wrong address) that I had only 60 days to reapply for my government prescription coverage for 2015 or I would be ineligible for the entire year. And it is tied to my Health Card – the information on which is required to be accurate.
Yikes! So, I bundled up the appropriate paperwork along with tax information from lastyear (they use this to determine deductible) and stuffed it all in an addressed envelope, ready to mail. But, of course, I didn’t have a stamp, so I’d been carrying the envelope around for about a week waiting for a stamp to enter my life. I mean, who wants to make a special trip for one stamp? Surely I would visit a store or be close to a post office (many are in drug stores here – I believe they are called chemists in England) or somesuch where I could pick up a stamp.
The provincial government has centralized all their documentation services under one department called ServiceOntario – often spelled without the space between the two words. They did this with an eye to making it more efficient and more easily accessible for the public. They have offices scattered around the province, including one in Ottawa City Hall – a short ride from my place. They also have an online service to change addresses and a phone service. Being essentially lazy, I called first but it was a holiday here Monday and there was no service. So, I opened up the website and started through the process of answering their questions but there was a trick question – isn’t there always? Since 911 most documentation has to be based on what I call “root” documents- birth certificate, passport, citizenship documents, or a few other primary documents. When I originally applied for my Health Card I used one of these documents for the application, and I have no clue which one. Well, the website insisted that I give it the last four digits of the document I had used decades ago to originally apply for my Health Card. Sigh. I tried a couple that I could think of and then…. It quite pertly told me that I was now ineligible to apply for an address change online. I found out later that it has a “two strikes and you are out” policy – it does not take kindly to guessing.
Would you like another cuppa? A sweet perhaps? Having bombed out permanently at the online option, I waited until the next day and then called ServiceOntario. Of course, I got straight through with no waiting and I am sure you can guess why. It turns out that they know when applicants have been guessing on their website and no, I can’t guess further on the phone. I was told very politely with a slight tone of apology that I would have to visit one of their many offices to make the necessary changes. So, I called up my transport and made the necessary arrangements for the next day to visit our charming city hall – still not sure what document I was missing. This being a new twist on the missing document problem – not only am I missing one but I don’t know which one and they won’t tell me – it’s a secret. Ha!
Fingers crossed, I bundled up all the paperwork I had and boarded my bus to city hall. It is a beautiful building and I was greeted with large signs on the door saying that I was welcome to breast feed my baby anywhere and anytime in this facility – and private rooms were available if I preferred. This is good to know. I located the ServiceOntario area – and it is a large area – and stood in line to get a number to sit in line. The gentleman who gave me my number – A95 – also gave me the address change form that I requested. I had a seat and watched the LED number display – Now Serving A72. The form was straight forward and, amazingly, did not ask me for the secret document that I didn’t have or at least didn’t know if I had or not. I watched the numbers change and noticed there were also “B” numbers and “D” numbers. Apparently there were also Service Canada and Service Ottawa services here as well – I found out later. Hmmm.
After about 30 minutes of waiting my number came up and I proceeded to the teller indicated – there were about 25 tellers. There a cheerful woman greeted me and asked how she could help. I explained what I wanted and I passed her the completed address change form and my Health Card and Driver’s License. I waited with bated breathe for the request for the secret document – but no request came. The agent worked smilingly on her computer. She glanced down at the two picture cards in front of her and I felt obliged to mention that I had grown considerable facial hair since the pictures were taken. I expected at least a frown but no, she lightly quipped: “Beards are becoming more popular lately.” Again the smile. Still typing away on the computer. Still feeling like I might be mistaken for someone trying to pass fake ID, I told her that I did some guest posting on blogs and had received a number of compliments on the beard – and that all I needed now was an unheated room over a bakery where I could pour my angst onto the screen and I would be a real writer. I realized that I was babbling and stopped while I was ahead. The woman smiled and gave a small laugh at my comment.
Within a few minutes she returned my cards to me and slid two more documents across the counter. She explained that a new driver’s license would be mailed within 60 days and that my Health Card address was changed in the data base. The two documents attested to the fact that I had braved the system and had made the necessary changes as required by law. If at any time I was asked by any official if and when I had made the changes, I would be required to produce these documents, so please keep them in a safe place. Ha! So, the process was now complete and I had more documents but still had no idea what the secret document was. So, I had to ask: “Can you tell me what the base document was that I originally used to apply for my Health Card?” And, still smiling she obliged: “It was your Nova Scotia Birth Certificate.” Ahhh, I seem to have misplaced that document, so I would never have guessed right. Should I order a new one?
Having addressed all my needs and wanting to impress upon me that this was a full service government facility that dearly wanted to fulfill my every desire, she had to ask: “Is there anything else I can help you with?” Being sarcastic and trying to be funny, I produced the stampless envelope and said:”I have this application for prescription coverage, can I give this to you?” She reached out and took the envelope, looked at the address and replied “Sure, I can take care of that for you.” The corners of the flap were a bit loose and she was busy taping them down when I stuttered: “But there’s no stamp on it.” She smiled: “That’s fine, we have inter-departmental mail and this is a provincial prescription service.” Wow. I thanked her very much, complimented her on the service and with a cheery “Good-bye” headed out.
On that note, that’s about all we have room for this week, so it’s time to settle in with another cuppa and enjoy the garden. Sweets anyone? Please join me in thanking Willow for her invitation to tea. We are all honored that you dropped by today to visit. I hope you’ve enjoyed yourself and the conversation and please look around at Willow’s other posts while you’re here. Willow is over there serving her guests and chatting it up. Let’s go see how she is today. Have a great week. We look forward to seeing you back here forsweets and beverages of your choice again next week.
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