Editing National identification number (section)

=== Canada ===
{{Main|Social insurance number}}
The use of the social insurance number (SIN) as a de facto ID number ended in 2004 with passage of The [[Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://onpayroll.ca/blog/social-insurance-number-useage|publisher=OnPayroll.ca|title=Social Insurance Number Usage|date=26 August 2011|access-date=2012-01-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828030129/http://onpayroll.ca/blog/social-insurance-number-useage|archive-date=2012-08-28|url-status=dead}}</ref> There are only certain instances where an organization may ask for a SIN (namely for tax or retirement benefit related issues). The SIN must be guarded as confidential personal information, and therefore cannot be used as a general ID number.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.privacylawyer.ca/privacy/piepda_and_social_insurance_numbers.pdf|author=David T.S. Fraser|date=1 September 2003|title=New rules for using social insurance numbers|publisher=McInnes Cooper law firm|access-date=10 January 2012|archive-date=27 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127190449/http://www.privacylawyer.ca/privacy/piepda_and_social_insurance_numbers.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Nevertheless, the SIN is still used as a unique identifier for the [[Canada Revenue Agency]] (similar to US's [[IRS]] and England's [[HMRC]]) to track individuals who are filing their income tax returns.