Bureaucrats in the Employment department considered bringing in a national identity card for Canadians, says Blacklock’s Reporter..But the idea, which has never before been mandated in Canada, was quietly dropped..The department disclosed in a report to the Senate social affairs committee the concept was studied two years ago..“It was not the direction the government intended to explore at that time,” said the report..“Given that identity is a provincial and territorial jurisdiction, apart from immigrants and newcomers to Canada who are provided with an identity document from the Department of Immigration, implementing an electronic national primary identity document is limited.”.The report was prompted by a May 12 committee hearing on the Social Insurance Number program used since 1964..“My question concerns the Social Insurance Number versus a digital identity,” said Sen. Lucie Moncion (Ont.)..“Could you tell us whether any work has been undertaken to replace the use of the Social Insurance Number with a digital identifier and if so what conclusions have been drawn?”.The department did not comment and promised a subsequent written reply. .That report said some form of electronic national identification was considered, but dropped..“The integrity services branch co-led a consultation process in 2019 with the Treasury Board on the subject of a national identifier,” said the report, but added the system was deemed too risky due to fear of data breaches..Valid identification recognized in all provinces and territories includes passports, birth certificates, work permits and Indian Status cards. Elections Canada allows voters to prove their identity with bank statements or utility bills..Parliamentary committees have repeatedly studied and rejected proposals for a national identification card. A proposal to use Social Insurance Numbers was dismissed by the Commons human resources committee in 1999..In 2003 the Commons immigration committee said introducing a national ID card would be costly, up to $5 billion, and was open to abuses..“The committee was warned many times about the prospect of the police being able to stop people on the street and demand proof of their identity,” the committee wrote in a report..The report was prompted by a proposal from then-Immigration Minister Denis Coderre for a national ID card after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US..“While the new focus on a positive proof of identity is partially rooted in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, other forces are play,” Coderre testified at 2003 hearings..“Identity theft is seen as a serious and growing problem in Canada. A national ID card is simply a tool that permits the bearer to prove with a high degree of certainty that they are who they are.”.Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
Bureaucrats in the Employment department considered bringing in a national identity card for Canadians, says Blacklock’s Reporter..But the idea, which has never before been mandated in Canada, was quietly dropped..The department disclosed in a report to the Senate social affairs committee the concept was studied two years ago..“It was not the direction the government intended to explore at that time,” said the report..“Given that identity is a provincial and territorial jurisdiction, apart from immigrants and newcomers to Canada who are provided with an identity document from the Department of Immigration, implementing an electronic national primary identity document is limited.”.The report was prompted by a May 12 committee hearing on the Social Insurance Number program used since 1964..“My question concerns the Social Insurance Number versus a digital identity,” said Sen. Lucie Moncion (Ont.)..“Could you tell us whether any work has been undertaken to replace the use of the Social Insurance Number with a digital identifier and if so what conclusions have been drawn?”.The department did not comment and promised a subsequent written reply. .That report said some form of electronic national identification was considered, but dropped..“The integrity services branch co-led a consultation process in 2019 with the Treasury Board on the subject of a national identifier,” said the report, but added the system was deemed too risky due to fear of data breaches..Valid identification recognized in all provinces and territories includes passports, birth certificates, work permits and Indian Status cards. Elections Canada allows voters to prove their identity with bank statements or utility bills..Parliamentary committees have repeatedly studied and rejected proposals for a national identification card. A proposal to use Social Insurance Numbers was dismissed by the Commons human resources committee in 1999..In 2003 the Commons immigration committee said introducing a national ID card would be costly, up to $5 billion, and was open to abuses..“The committee was warned many times about the prospect of the police being able to stop people on the street and demand proof of their identity,” the committee wrote in a report..The report was prompted by a proposal from then-Immigration Minister Denis Coderre for a national ID card after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US..“While the new focus on a positive proof of identity is partially rooted in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, other forces are play,” Coderre testified at 2003 hearings..“Identity theft is seen as a serious and growing problem in Canada. A national ID card is simply a tool that permits the bearer to prove with a high degree of certainty that they are who they are.”.Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694