Gord Macdonald | Email news tips to gmacdonald@cknw.com
1/7/2013
The provincial government has announced the new BC Services card will replace the Carecard, starting February 15th.
Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid says over the next five years, eligible British Columbians between 19 and 74 must replace the old Carecard.
"So you can get a combined BC Services Card which is your CardCard and your Driver's Licence or you can get a separate Services Card. Either way, if you want to this new Services card you can get it wherever Driver's Licences can be renewed".
She says features have been put in place to make sure only the appropriate government department can access your information.
The five year replacement program will cost 150-million dollars.
The BC Civil Liberties Association has concerns about the card, and says the government has refused to give out any details about the "architecture" of the new system.
Spokesperson Michael Vonn:
"We've filed FOI requests, had no responsive records and fees in the thousands of dollars and extension requests, etc, and so the question in our mind is now, if you think this is the best identity system going and that it properly respects privacy and does all the things it's supposed to do in terms of security why have we no information except the P-R campaign....which is yes we're rolling this out, it's going to be the best thing sliced bread?"
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