Albertans might have to start self-identifying their race on their driver's licenses, if the Edmonton Police Commission gets its way..The EPC is lobbying for the Alberta government to incorporate race on licenses and other government-issued identification cards..Last week commissioners voted 5-3 to write the provincial government to petition for the "addition of race-based data on government-issued identification cards.".Calahoo Stonehouse, a commissioner and member of the Michel First Nations, voted in favour of the change and told Global News "it's a big step in equity as Indians have to carry a treaty status card, which identifies our race. So, I think it's a step-in equity for other Albertans.".Stonehouse notes race-based data collection can help leverage "systemic change." .Edmonton Police Service Chief Dale McFee agrees with the petition and spoke in favour of the change.."If you look at our African-Canadian community here, there's many different things they just don't want to be referred to by the wrong community," he told Global.."It solves a lot of problems in relation to being able to get the right help and maybe find what the underlying causes are from a health perspective as well…race-based data is new all across the board. Everybody is trying to find the right, equitable and fair way to do this.".The move to mandate a race card in Alberta came after a presentation from Statistics Canada to the commission about how best to collect and use race-based data..Councillor Anne Steveson and commissioners Aneela Hassainly and Erick Ambtman voted against the motion. ."I was in South Africa for a year, and they do this, and it sort of creeps me out. So, I don't have a great logic other than it doesn't feel right, "said Ambtman.
