Lack of ID Hurts People in Crisis
Lakehead Researchers Work on the Frontlines to Reduce Barriers to Personal Identification
Originally published in the Chronicle Journal on July 5, 2025
By EMILY DONTSOS
Having a birth certificate is something most of us take for granted. But what happens if you don’t have one?
As two Lakehead University researchers have discovered, this is a scenario faced by countless people across northwestern Ontario—and the consequences can be devastating.
“Many people can go a long time without needing a birth certificate or other ID, but when an emergency happens—like needing access to healthcare, housing, or essential services—they need it urgently. And it can be much more difficult to obtain than many people realize,” says Dr. Chris Sanders, an associate professor in the Department of Sociology.
Ten years ago, Dr. Sanders and Dr. Kristin Burnett, a professor in the Department of Indigenous Learning, became aware of the full scope of this issue when they were asked to evaluate the Awenen Niin Identification Program being run by Kinna-aweya Legal Clinic in Thunder Bay. The program had been launched in response to the high number of low-income individuals in need of services but without the required ID.
“From that evaluation, we found that lack of ID is much more widespread and complex than previously thought,” Dr. Burnett says. “It affects people who are unhoused, but also those who are disconnected from their families, people raised in the child welfare system, those experiencing financial barriers, and many others.”
Wanting to explore the issue further, the two researchers successfully applied for funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and connected with the Thunder Bay ID Action Group—a coalition of grassroots and frontline service organizations working together to address lack of ID among people experiencing vulnerability.
“It was an issue we realized we could not only investigate to better understand, but that we could actually contribute to solving,” says Dr. Sanders.
Making a Difference through “Action Research”
In 2019, Drs. Burnett and Sanders began actively participating in and evaluating ID clinics run by the Thunder Bay ID Action Group across northwestern Ontario.
Their aim is to identify the key barriers to obtaining identification and put forward recommendations to Service Ontario and other government bodies to help reduce those barriers. But they’re also working day in and day out to help people access ID.
“I like to call it ‘action research’ because we’re not just conducting conventional research; we’re working directly with people in the community to navigate the systemic barriers they face,” Dr. Burnett says.
Over the years, they have helped thousands of people obtain birth certificates and other forms of ID so they can access healthcare, housing, essential services, and education—work that is directly aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #10, which focuses on reducing inequalities. But the obstacles they’ve encountered along the way have been numerous and complex.
“Service Ontario can only help with typical applications where all of the necessary information is available,” Dr. Burnett says. “But individuals with complex or incomplete applications are often sent away and have to try to get help from other agencies; many people end up waiting years to get their ID sorted out.”
Calling for Change
With years of first-hand observations and data analysis behind them, Drs. Burnett and Sanders are now focused on pushing for systemic change.
Their top recommendations have been compiled into a series of six calls to action—including a demand to eliminate application fees for birth certificates, which can be a critical barrier for people living in poverty.
The two researchers are also writing a book on the issue, which will be published later this year, and they’re in the process of creating a website to share their knowledge, insights, and resources as widely as possible.
Ultimately, they hope to share the message that reducing barriers to identification is an issue we should all care about—especially the government.
“It means that people who have low incomes or have been marginalized will get access to the same services that everyone else is entitled to,” Dr. Sanders says. “This is something the government can do to create a more equitable society.”
Research in Action highlights the work of Lakehead University in various fields of research.