Bill 37 — The Vital Statistics Amendment Act, 2025
Assented to on 2026-05-14 · Sponsor: Jeremy Cockrill
Updates Saskatchewan's vital statistics law, changing rules for naming children, appointing registrars, and handling birth, death and parentage records.
- Sets new rules for how a child's surname is determined when parents agree, disagree, or when only one parent registers the birth
- Allows a child to be given a single name based on cultural or religious practice with registrar approval
- Lets the registrar add a parent's name to a birth record through joint applications or court orders
- Allows funeral directors to submit death statements when no other authorized person is available
- Permits the registrar to issue certificates to people who need them if satisfied there is no unlawful purpose
- Lets the registrar order return of certificates that were misdirected or improperly obtained, making non-compliance an offence
- Removes the word 'adult' from some rules about who can request certificates for children or siblings
The bill on the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan website