Alberta is set to become the first province in Canada to include citizenship markers on driver’s licences and provincial ID cards, with the rollout scheduled for late 2026. Premier Danielle Smith said the redesigned cards, which will display a “CAN” code for Canadian citizens and integrate the holder’s Alberta health number, are intended to streamline access to government programs and strengthen election security.
Smith explained that combining identity and citizenship information into one card will simplify applications for student aid, health benefits, and disability supports, while also helping preserve the integrity of both provincial and federal elections. Non-citizens, including permanent residents, will receive cards without a citizenship designation.
The plan has drawn criticism from the Alberta NDP and civil liberties advocates. Immigration critic Lizette Tejada called the measure unnecessary red tape, arguing that the province has not explained why citizenship markers are needed given that few programs are citizen-only. She warned that Albertans without passports may now have to provide additional documents, such as birth certificates, to renew their licences.
Privacy experts have also expressed concern. Halifax-based lawyer David Fraser described the move as “unprecedented,” warning that making citizenship status visible on identification could lead to discrimination. He stressed that police and other authorities do not need to know citizenship status during routine checks like traffic stops or ID verification at liquor stores.
Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally defended the decision, saying it will help prevent fraud and secure the province’s health system. He pointed out that Alberta currently has over 530,000 more active health numbers than residents, which the government attributes to outdated record-keeping. Nally said the new card design is part of a larger overhaul of Alberta’s identification framework and confirmed there will be no added cost to apply for or renew a licence.
The province has not yet released a mockup of the new card, but officials say the changes will modernize Alberta’s ID system and tighten security across government services.
Would you like me to create a side-by-side mockup concept of the current Alberta driver’s licence and the proposed new version (with the “CAN” citizenship marker and health number placement) to visualize what this could look like?