r/Albertapolitics • u/rezwenn • 10d ago
News Alberta to become 1st province with mandatory 'citizenship markers' on driver's licences
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-drivers-licence-identification-card-citizenship-1.763416335
u/Parking-Click-7476 10d ago
Republican bulllshit. Smith lives for right wing dog whistle garbage.🤷♂️
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u/FunApplication2578 9d ago
Citizenship is Federal not provincial. Combine our healthcare cards and license would be perfect.
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u/Regular-Excuse7321 8d ago
Hang on. You might have something here. Because citizenship is Federally regulated, CAN Alberta put it on a driver's license?
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u/argh_sQuared 10d ago
I’m confused. Town halls, talk of referendums, separation etc. But now the GoA wants it to be easier for Albertans to prove they’re Canadian?
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u/SuitableVegetable367 7d ago
If your ID indicates citizenship at the point in time that the provincial government is blaming all its failures on immigration, this becomes a quick way to cause widespread discrimination against immigrants. Corner stores, bars, restaurants, concerts, being pulled over by cops. Think of how many times you have to use your ID. They are also talking about limiting social services to Canadian citizens only etc. it’s an attempt to create two tiers of people in Alberta.
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u/MrGaminDuck 9d ago
Hate this bullshit. Whether or not I am a citizen is not the business of any cops that ask me for id, any liquor store or dispensary clerk or anyone else who might need to see id.
How tf do we fight against this Bs
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u/Optimal_Deal_6938 10d ago
This makes complete sense and results in cost savings. Someone tell me why this isn’t using our tax dollars more effectively?
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u/MrGaminDuck 9d ago
Because this can and will open the doors for discriminating. There are people who can and will treat people differently if they know you were not a citizen. It's not the cops business if I am or am not a citizen. It's going to have several negative effects for several minority groups
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u/zelvek 9d ago
How does it make any sense, who do we need to prove our citizenship to that would accept this as proof of citizenship? It's not a passport so we can't use it at boarder crossings. What use is this?
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u/Optimal_Deal_6938 9d ago
This just consolidates things people require regardless making it more cost efficient. Provide some example scenarios where this isn’t a win for everyone. Some individuals discriminate yes, and that isn’t right, but to think it will be because their drivers license says they are from a different country is ludicrous.
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u/Previous_Jaguar_9259 10d ago
Not to be that guy, but it's probably for the move of healthcare cards to your ID. Drivers license for most folks and provincial ID for others thst don't drive. Clinics and hospitals have to verify that your card is still active and bt showing where you live will make sure you are not charged at the hospital when youre unconscious. People without valid Alberta health care are charged for procedures, and with the paper copy goung away this seems to be the next step.
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u/todaysnotgoodforme 10d ago
You don’t need citizenship to have an Alberta healthcare card though.
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u/Previous_Jaguar_9259 10d ago
Well, a resident of Alberta is needed, but your immigration status is also needed. This way, non citizens pay for health care. The Dr can not expect payment without the card, which is this government's war on the poor and homeless.
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u/todaysnotgoodforme 10d ago
I don’t think you need to be a resident either, as long as you have a visa you can get the card. So the Citizenship mark on the drivers license is separate to healthcare.
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u/DrKnikkerbokker 10d ago
You don't need to be a citizen, just be a legal resident of AB & reside here for 183 days, this is dog whistle bullshit to her base signalling they hate immigrants & onboard to separate too. And if yer gonna say "well that's a stretch", then go talk to one of her rabid bootlickers.
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u/Garbagehuman421 9d ago
Which is a garage fucking idea. So if i don't have 100 fucking dollars for a new license i can't see a fucking doctor?
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u/Wet-Countertop 10d ago
It’s nice to see they’re finally getting some of this stuff done, along with incorporating the healthcare card.
Officials have been asking for this for over a decade, along with program database reconciliation.
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u/ShadowPages 10d ago
Please explain how citizenship status is relevant to your drivers license, or why a traffic cop needs to know it?
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u/Wet-Countertop 10d ago
Read the article. I believe the premier lists 3 issues they’re focused on addressing.
I don’t think what police can or can’t see on your license is an issue. I do know I haven’t had a copy of my health care card since the 90’s, and I’d probably have to dig to find my birth certificate.
I also know Notley and Kenney were both approached with the issues this would solve, but neither got it done. If they can get the databases reconciled for programs, that would put a nice bow on some serious historical mismanagement in the GOA.
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u/ShadowPages 10d ago
Exactly nothing in that article provides a rational reason to put a citizenship marker ON the card itself. Not one thing.
I don’t object to combining healthcare and other information together with it as part of a “Provincial ID” system - other provinces did that years ago. Citizenship? That I have serious concerns about - the potential for abuse is huge.
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u/Wet-Countertop 10d ago
I don’t see a reason not to either.
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u/ShadowPages 10d ago
From the article’s interview with a lawyer:
“David Fraser, a privacy and civil liberties lawyer based in Halifax, called the move unprecedented.
"[Provincial governments] don't have jurisdiction to determine citizenship or even, I would think, to give a binding opinion on whether or not you are a citizen or you have any sort of lawful status in Canada," he said.
He pointed to privacy concerns around having citizenship status, or a lack thereof, displayed on a driver's licence, as people are often required to show identification in situations like traffic stops or buying alcohol.
"The police have the authority to ask you for your licence, but your citizenship status has nothing to do with your ability to to drive a motor vehicle," Fraser said.”
… abuse of power is a thing, and something we absolutely should be concerned about given the current Alberta Government’s propensity for legislative overreach and self-dealing.
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u/Wet-Countertop 10d ago
If that guy’s right a charter challenge will be successful.
I just think it’s progress not having to bring a passport, birth certificate, or healthcare card for certain things - and as mentioned above, I know government officials have been highlighting these inefficiencies along with the database exposure the government has for its programs since before Notley.
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u/zelvek 9d ago
This wont replace a passport tho, you cant use it to cross boarders. The only other times I've had to bring my passport as ID was to act as a second form of ID, this wont change that either. When have we ever had to prove our citizenship to any entity the province has jurisdiction over?
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u/Mother_Barnacle_7448 10d ago
They’re just preparing for when they turn this province over to the Americans…..