The concept of digital government, when we\u2019re already living in a digital society, should be widely welcomed. This is especially true in the area of identification, where establishing who we are and what we\u2019re eligible to do is one of the foundational tasks of government.<\/p>\n
Despite remarkable advances in technology that accelerate with each year, we\u2019re still tethered to an analogue model that relies on presenting physical documents to establish our identity in the multiple daily transactions we have with public services, businesses and each other. The good news is that there\u2019s a modern solution to this challenge. The Canadian banking sector is ideally situated to underpin a digital ID system that will revolutionize the way we use personal data to interact with the world.<\/p>\n
The current system is deficient in three major ways. First, it\u2019s outdated \u2013 especially when it relies on physical documents like driver\u2019s licences and utility bills. These documents can be forged or stolen and used fraudulently. Requiring face-to-face transactions also places a burden on those in remote communities and those with mobility challenges who could be forced to travel long distances to conduct basic business or access essential services.<\/p>\n
Second, even today\u2019s technology-based approaches are clumsy. The two-factor identification sequence used online, where you enter a user name and password, can be easily compromised. It\u2019s also a hassle for users who must remember dozens of log-in credentials.<\/p>\n
Third, inefficient methods of establishing identity are a drag on economic growth. They slow down the speed of transactions, introduce uncertainty and are prone to costly errors. Countries around the world realize this situation is untenable and are crossing the electronic frontier to explore the benefits of implementing digital identity systems.<\/p>\n
When ID goes digital, citizens can verify their identity electronically using a combination of existing systems and newer biometric tools such as fingerprints or facial recognition. With the growing number of Canadians accessing services and businesses online and the increased use of mobile phones, Canada is in a position to move forward with its own robust digital identity system.<\/p>\n
Two recent developments have added momentum to this trend. First, updates made in 2018 to the Bank Act<\/em> now expressly allow banks to provide identification, verification and authentication services beyond the needs of their own operations. This is a contemporary acknowledgement of what has always been true about banks: they know who their customers are, know about their financial status and can attest to both. Historically, banks would write letters of introduction for clients to help them in personal or business matters in distant locations. The endorsement of a bank created trust among strangers.<\/p>\n The second development is that the Canadian Bankers Association (CBA) recently produced a White Paper<\/a> that lays out a clear path for making digital ID a reality in Canada. At the CBA, we took into account our country\u2019s unique characteristics, advanced institutions and sophisticated infrastructure to develop a framework for what could work here.<\/p>\n We call for a federated model of digital ID because it would align with Canada\u2019s political structure. A federated model works by creating linkages between federal and provincial identity management systems. Right now, identity is spread across multiple isolated regimes: for instance, the federal government has social insurance and passport information, but the provinces manage health cards and driver\u2019s licences.<\/p>\n Because this digital network is connected yet decentralized, the risk of compromising the system is reduced by eliminating \u201choney pots\u201d of data that hackers tend to target.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The first step in our model envisions maintaining these distinct systems, but connecting the disparate elements in such a way that someone\u2019s identity can be authenticated electronically using a combination of attributes. Instantly verifying who someone is using multiple digital reference points is more secure than relying on a plastic licence card that could be a forgery. Because this digital network is connected yet decentralized, the risk of compromising the system is reduced by eliminating \u201choney pots\u201d of data that hackers tend to target.<\/p>\n The second step is to harness the power of the private sector. This would enable the creation of a digital ID system without the cost and risk of building complex infrastructure from scratch. Canada\u2019s banks already operate across the country and around the world. We have robust, interconnected electronic systems that citizens can access from branches, bank machines, home computers and mobile phones. These networks are up and running 24 hours a day, all year long.<\/p>\n More importantly, banks are already held to a high standard when it comes to collecting and safeguarding the personal information of customers. We\u2019re subject to rigorous oversight to ensure these data are held accurately and securely, from one end of a transaction to the other.<\/p>\n The third step in our federated model involves passing legislation that would allow business and government to accept digital ID. Banks must know their clients as part of Canada\u2019s fight against money laundering and terrorist financing. This involves thoroughly gathering and maintaining customer information and financial intelligence, subject to strict regulations. It\u2019s true that some client ID requirements under anti-money-laundering and anti-terrorist-financing legislation have been modified to allow non-face-to-face verification. However, the rules continue to be rooted in physical ID.<\/p>\n We want to work with the Treasury Board, the Department of Finance Canada, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and other departments and agencies to explore ways to accommodate the technologies of the connected age. To build a functioning digital ID system in Canada, we should be open to innovative identity verification methods \u2013 including document review through a live video connection, blockchain and biometrics \u2013 that have begun to see widespread adoption in other parts of the economy. These methods have the potential to prove an individual\u2019s identity more securely and accurately than showing physical identification at a specific location. Instead of choosing specific types of technology, the framework for digital ID should be open to many possibilities so that digital ID providers can experiment and evolve as fast-moving technology does the same.<\/p>\n Ottawa is already exploring other ways to update financial transactions, such as open banking<\/a>, and the modernization of our payments system<\/a> is under way. Blockchain and artificial intelligence are pushing into new frontiers. With these developments, the demand for digital ID will only grow more urgent. Banks stand ready to contribute energy and resources to build a federated model for Canada.<\/p>\n This article is part of the\u00a0Wiring Public Policy for Digital Government<\/a>\u00a0special feature.<\/strong><\/p>\n Photo: Shutterstock by HQuality<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Do you have something to say about the article you just read? Be part of the\u00a0<\/em>Policy Options\u00a0discussion, and send in your own submission.\u00a0Here is a\u00a0<\/em>link<\/em><\/a>\u00a0on how to do it.\u00a0<\/em>|\u00a0Souhaitez-vous r\u00e9agir \u00e0 cet article ?\u00a0<\/em>Joignez-vous aux d\u00e9bats d\u2019<\/em>Options politiques\u00a0et soumettez-nous votre texte en suivant ces\u00a0<\/em>directives<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The concept of digital government, when we\u2019re already living in a digital society, should be widely welcomed. This is especially true in the area of identification, where establishing who we are and what we\u2019re eligible to do is one of the foundational tasks of government. Despite remarkable advances in technology that accelerate with each year, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":275223,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"2025-10-08T02:24:32Z","apple_news_api_id":"987ff5ed-2e35-4711-915f-2b602a7cc8c4","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2025-10-08T02:24:32Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AmH_17S41RxGRXytgKnzIxA","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false},"categories":[9387,9372,9383],"tags":[8519,9237],"article-status":[],"irpp-category":[4374,4337],"section":[],"irpp-tag":[7105],"class_list":["post-266941","issues","type-issues","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-elaboration-de-politiques","category-recent-stories-fr","category-sciences-et-technologies","tag-digital-government-fr","tag-intelligence-artificielle","irpp-category-innovation","irpp-category-science-et-technologie","irpp-tag-gouvernement-numerique"],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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