Old Age Security Regulations

16 (1) If the Minister has not received information in support of an application for a benefit that is necessary to determine the relationship between the applicant and their spouse or common-law partner, the Minister may require that one of the following documents be submitted:

• (a) in the case of spouses, their certificate of marriage, a copy of that certificate or a copy of their act of marriage; or

• (b) in the case of common-law partners, a statutory declaration setting out information as to their relationship or, if applicable, any other evidence of the relationship.

(2) If there are reasonable grounds to doubt the validity of the copy of a certificate or act of marriage referred to in paragraph (1)(a), the Minister may require that the original certificate of marriage or, if applicable, a copy of the act of marriage issued by the competent authority be submitted.

(3) If there are reasonable grounds to believe that none of the documents referred to in paragraph (1)(a) are available, the Minister may determine the relationship between the applicant and their spouse on the basis of a statutory declaration setting out information as to their marriage or, if applicable, any other evidence of the marriage.