Ottawa Rules Out National Digital ID in Response to Petition Presented by MP

Ottawa says it has no plans to introduce a mandatory national digital identification system and is instead prioritizing a billion-dollar project to modernize how Canadians access federal benefits and government services online. The commitment came in the federal government’s Aug. 19 response to a House of Commons e-petition sponsored by Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis, which called on Parliament to reject current and future proposals for a national digital ID.

Ottawa Rules Out National Digital ID in Response to Petition Presented by MP

TL;DR

  • Ottawa confirms no plans for a mandatory national digital ID system.
  • Government is prioritizing a $1 billion project to modernize online access to federal benefits and services.
  • This stance was communicated in response to a House of Commons e-petition.
  • The petition, sponsored by MP Leslyn Lewis, called for the rejection of national digital ID proposals.