After Saskatchewan, Alberta is the second province to reject participation in Digital ID on healthcare as a condition for receiving healthcare funding from the federal government. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith made it clear to citizens on 10 February 2023 that their personal medical information will not be shared with the federal government.
"I agree and fully support @PremierScottMoe in protecting Albertans' private health information," Smith tweeted.
"I will ensure that any agreements with the federal government do NOT include sharing such personal information with the Feds or third parties."
Smith included in her tweet an open letter from Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe that was made public over a week ago.
In Moe's letter, he wrote that the "Government of Saskatchewan is not creating digital ID, nor will we accept demands for the creation of digital ID linked to healthcare funding."
In Canada, under the constitution, health care falls 100% under the jurisdiction of provincial governments. Some federal money is transferred to the provinces, but that amount has declined in recent years.
Last week, all prime ministers of Canada met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to try to reach a healthcare funding agreement with the federal government. Trudeau wants to link that funding to the Digital ID but he will not get that done anymore given the opposition of 2 governors to this national programme.
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