The guidance will help Albertans protect their information and assist various entities that collect the information on the cards.
The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) of Alberta is working to develop guidance due to changes that will soon come into effect for Alberta driver’s licences and identification (ID) cards. The Alberta government announced yesterday that starting on July 2, it will begin issuing driver’s licences and ID cards that will also incorporate personal health numbers and, when applicable, Canadian citizenship markers.
“Our office has been in discussions with the government regarding this matter and has been aware the change was coming,” said Information and Privacy Commissioner Diane McLeod. “Because the change will bring new risks to personal information, we are putting together information and guidance that will address ways that Albertans can protect the information on the new driver’s licences and ID cards. As well, we are developing guidance for public bodies, organizations and other entities to inform them about the rules in Alberta’s privacy laws regarding the collection of the additional information included on Albertans’ driver’s licences and ID cards.”
These changes are enabled by amendments to the Health Information Act (HIA) made late last year through the passage of Bill 11. When these changes were tabled in the Alberta Legislative Assembly, the Commissioner issued a news release and sent a letter to the government, outlining her concerns about the changes. The Commissioner had previously recommended against the use of personal health numbers (PHNs) on driver’s licences and ID cards because it creates additional risks, including fraud. A related concern is that the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, the branch that will collect this information to put it on driver’s licences or identification cards, is not subject to privacy laws in Alberta.
The amendments to HIA are not yet in force but are expected to come into force later this month.
“The issues that I expressed in December last year in my news release and letter to government remain a concern,” said McLeod. “That’s why I am taking the additional step of developing new guidance to assist both citizens and the entities that will be handling this sensitive personal information.”
The guidance will be completed soon and will be published on the OIPC website.
Through the OIPC, the Information and Privacy Commissioner performs the responsibilities set out in Alberta’s access to information and privacy laws, the Access to Information Act, the Protection of Privacy Act, the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act during the transition period, the Health Information Act, and the Personal Information Protection Act. The Commissioner operates independently of government.
For more information:
Elaine Schiman
Communications Manager
Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta
communications@oipc.ab.ca
Mobile: (587) 983-8766