UCP leadership candidate Brian Jean says UCP leadership hopeful Danielle Smith stated her $1.4 billion health savings account proposal would use an app just like "Uber" or "Airbnb.”.Jean said he believes that would be a step towards an Alberta government digital ID..On September 16, Smith released details of a proposed 'Health Spending Account' for Albertans.."The account will operate similarly to Uber or Airbnb in that it will connect patients with service providers directly through an app on your phone or device. This will ensure there's no unnecessary bureaucracy or delays in getting Albertans the health services they need," Smith stated..On Tuesday, Jean told the Western Standard via email, "This would be a step towards government digital ID and is risky in terms of privacy and precedent."."Smith will likely say that it is not mandatory, but the clear implication is that without the app you won't be able to access your government health savings account," Jean told the Western Standard..Jean believes Smith's proposal is "extremely worrisome.".According to Jean, as has been proven by both federal and Alberta governments with the COVID-19 tracker apps and with the ArriveCan app, governments are bad at building apps.."Your health data is some of the most private data in your life and the security needed for health data will massively exceed the security that Uber or Airbnb need to have," said Jean.."Unlike commercial apps which use credit card company validation to establish a minimum level of ID certainty, any government app that releases government money will have to establish a much higher level of ID certainty. That level of ID certainty leads to government-issued mandatory digital ID which a large number of Albertans oppose as being inequitable and a massive violation of their freedoms.".Jean believes any government funding program should not require an app.."I do not believe you should need a digital ID to access any government funding program. I strongly believe that any digital ID should not only be completely voluntary but that there should be no compulsion or coercion to have people sign up for it," Jean said.."Putting the government on an app on your phone is a slippery slope to a complete invasion of privacy."."I think Smith's proposal violates privacy laws and health information privacy laws. There’s no way this program will be ready on the rapid timeline that Smith proposes," said Jean.."I think her proposal shows that she is unaware of the IT and privacy issues that face government."."Smith wants to run the government the same way Uber is run, you can’t. Not if you want to protect people's privacy," Jean said.
