Alberta adds citizenship to IDs to counter healthcare & election fraud

Alberta will become the first province in Canada to add Canadian citizenship markers to driver’s licences and identification cards, a move the government continuously emphasized was about security.

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Alberta will become the first province in Canada to add Canadian citizenship markers to driver’s licences and identification cards, a move the government continuously emphasized was about convenience and security.

The change, announced Monday, will take effect in fall 2026 and apply to all new and renewed cards.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith explained that the change would make things “better, faster, and more convenient for everyone.”

She added that when Albertans need to access vital services like student aid, health benefits, and other government supports, they will no longer need to carry numerous documents or face roadblocks.

“This change means that when Albertans need to prove both their identity and their citizenship, they’ll be able to do so with a single document. It’s about reducing red tape, cutting down on paperwork, and making sure that government works for you, not the other way around,” she said.

Smith also said that the change would enhance election security, as the citizenship on driver’s licenses would ensure that only actual citizens are able to vote.

Non-citizens, like permanent residents, will still qualify for Alberta’s driver’s licenses. Their identification will not have the citizenship marker displayed.

Additional security measures are forthcoming around healthcare identification numbers as well. Smith revealed that there are 530,438 more healthcare numbers than registered people living in Alberta.

She added that it is not clear who these people are. Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, Dale Nally, blamed this phenomenon on Alberta Health Services, which he said “lacked security and controls.”

The province recently announced a new digital wallet, which allows Albertans to store their government-issued documents on their smartphone if they want. The first card available to do this with is the mobile health card.

Alberta’s Technology and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish previously told True North that the health card will be implemented with Albertans’ driver’s licenses next year.

Nally reaffirmed that these changes would happen at the same time. He said the cards will come at no extra cost to Albertans, although he added that the province would be funding them, meaning taxpayers.

However, Nally said that there is no current plan to make driver’s licenses virtually accessible through the digital wallet.

Albertans will have to provide proof of citizenship or immigration status once the change is implemented to renew or obtain a driver’s license.

Nally said that while working with the federal government, Ottawa was unable to provide a single source of data to tell the province who is or who is not a Canadian citizen.

“There are 67 countries around the world that already do this,” he said. “This is not controversial, but it will make life simpler for Albertans when they’re applying for benefits.”

Smith said her government has been talking about this change since its re-election. She said the change will help solve the unknown number of health cards, the issues around social programs requiring citizenship, and election integrity simultaneously.

The citizenship marker will be added to all renewed and new driver’s licenses starting in the fall of 2026.