Saskatchewan’s Information and Privacy Commissioner Ron Kruzeniski wants the province to develop a non-mandatory digital identification (ID)..“The time has come,” said Kruzeniski in his office’s annual report released on Tuesday..Other provinces are using digital IDs or credentials and Saskatchewan should start the process, according to Kruzeniski..“I would hope the Government of Saskatchewan continues to consult, educate, and explain the benefits of a digital ID for citizens of our province,” said Kruzeniski..“My hope is that Saskatchewan develops a digital ID that meets our province’s needs, maximizes the benefits, and minimizes the risks. … The time has come where we need a credential that can be used online to prove one’s identity.”.The digital ID would not replace a passport, health card, or driver’s license..“Digital ID would be a convenient and easy identification solution that’s made with the security and encryption we need to securely perform transactions and access services online,” said Kruzeniski..READ MORE: Saskatchewan ditches digital IDs, for now.The Saskatchewan government stopped the request for proposals for the digital ID plan on March 31, 2022, as it wants to see how digital ID programs work in other provinces..“We will be watching very closely to observe how their digital ID programs progress,” said a government statement..“There are benefits from observing the rollout of digital ID in other provinces in Canada. We have asked officials in the ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement’s information technology division to contact their colleagues in other jurisdictions.”.Kruzeniski said the digital IDs could be used for different identifications such as “age-sensitive purchases (such as a lottery ticket), picking up a package at the post office, applying for government assistance (such as disability support or EI), applying for a hunting or fishing licence, booking a site in a provincial park, signing up for an account with or receiving services from a Crown corporation, or making an insurance claim.”.The only digital ID the Saskatchewan government attempted was a digital proof-of-vaccination QR code through eHealth that is no longer used..The Saskatchewan government said in March 2022 that it would not consider any digital ID programs until 2023..The Saskatchewan government has been a member of the Digital ID and Authentication Council of Canada since 2020.
