The federal government is quietly surveying Canadians about the potential introduction of a mandatory national identification system, despite long-standing political opposition.
Blacklock's Reporter says confidential polling commissioned by Immigration Minister Marc Miller’s department is gauging public willingness to use passports as a domestic ID.
The research, conducted by Advanis Inc., a Waterloo, Ont.-based firm, is part of an ongoing Passport Client Experience Survey. Advanis declined to comment on the study, which has been running since December, and the Department of Immigration has remained silent on its objectives.
One survey question asked respondents, “How comfortable would you be sharing a secure digital version of the passport within Canada as an identity document?” No additional context was provided.
Parliament has repeatedly rejected national ID proposals, citing privacy concerns and high costs.
A 1999 Commons human resources committee dismissed using Social Insurance Numbers as a form of ID. In 2003, the Commons immigration committee estimated a national ID system could cost up to $5 billion and warned of potential abuses, such as police demanding identification on the street.
The idea resurfaced post-9/11 when then-Immigration Minister Denis Coderre proposed a national ID card to enhance security. At the time, Coderre argued identity theft was a growing problem, and a national ID would offer a reliable way to verify identity.
However, the proposal faced strong pushback from privacy advocates, including then-Privacy Commissioner Robert Marleau, who called it “the most significant privacy issue in Canadian society.”
Marleau warned that such a system would be costly, intrusive, and could lead to widespread surveillance.
Public skepticism remains high. A 2023 Privy Council Office study found Canadians were generally distrustful of digital credentials and worried about potential government overreach.
Polling indicated that while some saw digital IDs as convenient, many feared cybersecurity risks and the potential for personal data to be compromised.
Despite public resistance and past parliamentary opposition, the government’s quiet polling suggests the idea of a national ID system remains on the table.