Alberta adds citizenship status to ID cards to streamline service, protect elections

By Canadian Press on September 15, 2025.

EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government is adding proof of citizenship markers to driver’s licences and other forms of identification to streamline services and prevent election fraud.

She says this will make it easier for students and the disabled to get funding given they have to prove their citizenship to do so.

She says the goal is also to protect democracy to make sure that only citizens vote.

Smith says non-citizens like permanent residents who can get a driver’s licences will not have any notation on their IDs.

Alberta Health Care numbers will also be added to driver’s licences.

The citizenship marker will appear as the letters CAN on the identification.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 15, 2025.

The Canadian Press