Ontario to phase in optional digital photo card and driver's licence

Ontario's government under Premier Doug Ford will phase in optional digital health cards and driver's licences, beginning with a tested Ontario Photo Card for people without a licence. A legal right to a physical ID is promised only by late 2027, and the province's privacy commissioner has warned that stronger privacy law, independent oversight and safeguards against tracking of transactions are needed. The development matters because voluntary digital identity schemes can become the foundation for routine, enforceable access to services, though the plan is currently presented as optional.