CALGARY (660 NEWS) – It looks like Alberta could soon move away from using paper health cards.
Last week’s provincial budget included some funding for Service Alberta to modernize registry systems and add health numbers to drivers licenses or identification cards.
In a statement, Service Alberta said it recognizes people are frustrated with the current health cards which lack security features.
“Service Alberta has been working closely with our colleagues in Health to explore options to modernize the paper cards using some of the same security, technology, and innovation that led to Alberta having some of the most secure driver’s licences and ID cards in North America,” the statement reads.
Service Alberta said the plan to modernize the cards was a part of the United Conservative’s election campaign in 2019.
British Columbia made a similar move in merging its former Care Cards with driver’s licenses to create a single identification card.
The paper cards have been in place for decades and have been criticized in the past, especially around their lack of expiry dates
It’s expected the change will cost around $600,000.
