The Canadian government, building on a partnership with the World Economic Forum (WEF), is developing a new federal “
Digital Identity Program.”
The aim of the new initiative is to develop a digital proof-of-identity document, which could be used across different systems and environments ranging from government services to airports and border control,
according to Slay News.
Officials revealed details of the program in the government’s sprawling “Canada’s Digital Ambition 2022”
report, published Aug. 4.
According to the report, the “Digital Identity Program” is part of Priority 2.2 of Canada’s “Digital Ambition,” which seeks to “build and use common solutions for digital service delivery.”
“Our next step in enabling digital government is adopting a ‘government as a platform’ service delivery model,” the report states. The federal Digital Identity Program is the “next step in making services more convenient to access.”
Officials said the program is “the electronic equivalent of a recognized proof-of-identity document,” such as a driver’s license or passport, which “confirms that ‘you are who you say you are’ in a digital context.”
According to the report, “The
COVID-19pandemic highlighted the need for government services to be accessible and flexible in the digital age.”
However, Canada’s partnership with the WEF began prior to the pandemic. Under Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a
member of the WEF’s Young Global Leaders program, Canada has since 2018
participated in the “Known Traveler Digital Identity” (KTDI) program, the WEF’s pilot program to develop a
digital ID.
