I doubt the citizenship ID card thing goes the full way the AB Gov are expecting but this isn't really that out of left field or fascist as some suggest. A lot of EU and other countries require you to have a national identity card highlighting your information and your citizenship/place of birth. In a lot of countries it's mandatory to carry, other counties it's pretty much mandatory since the police can detain you right away until they can identify you and where you are from.
It's usually the most important ID document for a lot of countries for government services, almost like our passport. Just because we have so many provinces and our country is so large, does not make it less important to prove who we are. I know some people may think this is strange but you know who doesn't? Immigrants who a lot of times carry their Canadian citizenship cards with them to prove it. There are security benefits when it comes to policing that can result in quicker apprehensions for people who are dual citizens. This is why it's routine for people on Canada wide warrant's to be able flee Canada on another countries passport. By the time the ID is made and CPIC has made it known, the suspects can be gone with another passport.
There are probably things behind the scenes the government isn't openly bringing up cause it makes the governing party look in competent and incredible wasteful. What value do you think these stupid paper AB Health cards carry for people who don't have insurance? People who live out of province/country? Not like there is a high level of security attached.
Previously I gave examples of people I know who lived here illegally and managed to get an AB Health Card. They did not meet the requirements for the card but were issued it.
I don't really have a side in this particular debate but it's not like proving your citizenship is some morally unethical ask.
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