The first form of identification available to those born in B.C. is the birth certificate.

But the 100,000 people who rely on birth certificates issued by government agents from 1989 to 1993 might face challenges getting driver's licences, social insurance numbers and passports.

The certificates issued during this period by government offices other than the Vital Statistics Agency feature a letter followed by a string of numbers. The letter sets them apart from the numbers-only birth certificates issued by the agency.

The alpha-numeric birth certificates are valid, but the letter is causing confusion for clerks in government offices who aren't familiar with the format. Sometimes they turn people away and claim, incorrectly, that the certificates are not valid.

Kerry Savory of Langford took action after she heard about a friend's difficulties in trying to get her son's social insurance card replaced. He had a birth certificate starting with a letter.

"She was told her son's birth certificate was invalid," said Savory, who then examined her two daughters' birth certificates. Both were issued during the affected period, but only her younger daughter, Erin, had a certificate with a letter preceding numbers.

When Erin was about to apply for her driver's licence, her mother called ahead and was told B.C. Motor Vehicle offices accept birth certificates bearing numbers only.

That's not correct, but it prompted Savory to visit the Vital Statistics office, where Erin's birth certificate was replaced free of charge.

Anyone with a birth certificate bearing a letter can get it replaced at no cost, said Ryan Jabs, spokesman for the Health Services Ministry.

The problem arose because the government of the time was trying to make it easier for people to get birth certificates, he said. During the affected period, residents could apply for birth certificates through government offices other than Vital Statistics offices.

Other government agents issued certificates beginning with a letter, while the Vital Statistics offices used numbers only.

After 1993, other government agents stopped issuing birth certificates, which again became the sole responsibility of Vital Statistics offices.

Government staff will be reminded that the birth certificates starting with letters are valid identification, Jabs said. "Vital Statistics considers them valid identification, so they're not issuing a recall on them."

Still, anyone who wishes to have them replaced can do so, he said.

For information on how to get a birth certificate replaced, call Vital Statistics in Victoria at (250) 952-2681 or toll-free (888) 876-1633.

smcculloch@tc.canwest.com