The province’s service minister says Albertans are “absolutely embracing” new three-in-one identification cards. The province reported 95,000 Albertans renewed their licences in July, an increase of 33 per cent over 2025; 126,000 renewed in August, representing a 23-per-cent increase from last year. Dale Nally, Alberta minister of service and red tape reduction, attributes the surge to Albertans’ desire for the new cards. “This is reflected by people that are coming in early to renew their licence because they want the health-care card on the back, they want the citizenship marker on the front,” Nally told CTV News Edmonton on Friday. “We had 82 per cent of Albertans that are coming in for non-mandatory services opting in to the new driver’s licence,” he added. “Albertans are absolutely embracing this.” The identification cards, which include health numbers and Canadian citizenship markers, were rolled out in July. One of the changes that worried some Albertans was the new expiration date for the integrated Alberta Health Care cards, which could see Albertans paying out of pocket for medical care should they forget to renew. Nally said that change will only affect Albertans with the new card. “If you only have the paper health-care card now, then it doesn’t expire,” he said. “We’re notifying everybody 60 days and 30 days before their ID or their driver’s licence does expire and we’re telling them what documentation to bring in.” To resolve other complaints, Nally said Albertans can apply for an interim 60-day licence while they replace or locate missing documentation. And, he said, the province has expanded documentation accepted to prove Canadian citizenship – including passports expired for a year or less. To receive a temporary extension, Albertans must present their current driver’s licence or identification card at a registry agent. People with an Alberta.ca account will receive reminders 60 and 30 days before their card expires. “We’re doing everything that we can to make it as seamless as possible. We know that it is an extra two steps … so it is a slight inconvenience, but it’s going to provide a lifetime of convenience,” Nally said. The Alberta NDP has called for Nally’s resignation over the rollout, saying the United Conservative Party has made Albertans’ lives “more difficult by handing them more red tape.” “The UCP government created this mess by introducing unnecessary requirements for driver’s licences without thinking through the consequences for Albertans,” NDP MLA David Shepherd, shadow minister of public safety, said on Tuesday. “Albertans deserve a government that makes their lives better and more affordable. This driver’s licence system does the opposite.” Nally responded on Friday, chalking the official opposition’s critiques calls up to “election season” rhetoric. “We shouldn’t be surprised with the salacious comments coming from the NDP,” Nally said. “They’re saying Albertans are not embracing this new licence, the data is suggesting something else … At the end of the day, we listen to Albertans and we’re going to continue to work for them.” The Government of Alberta website has more information on the new health care cards and licenses. Guidance from Alberta’s privacy commissioner relating to how the public can protect their privacy regarding the new cards was issued in July. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Craig Ellingson, CTV News Calgary’s Timm Bruch and Jack Farrell of The Canadian Press
