As for getting a new social insurance number, I have a little difficulty understanding. Basically, the argument is that it becomes complicated for people. In principle, a social insurance number is issued for reasons of efficiency. A unique identifier makes transactions with government agencies easier.
Forgive me if this analogy may not be an exact one. If I see a problem with my credit card today, the bank or the company that issued it is still able to transfer a balance or to link the legitimate transactions on my credit card that has been used fraudulently and the new one it sent to me.
Why would a financial institution be able to do that, while you are not able to say that someone’s social insurance number has been compromised and to give them a new number? A former employer, for example, might have to take care of questions about that person’s pension. Knowing that is the same person, why are you not able to link the previous social insurance number to a new one? You may perhaps have to do some additional checking, given that the number has been compromised. But I am still having a little difficulty understanding why you can’t do it.