Question Period Note: Digital Credentials Issue and Verify Request for Information (RFI)

Why is the Government proceeding with procurements for issuing and verifying digital credentials?

• The RFI will evaluate the capabilities of industry in support of a future solution that would allow the Government of Canada to offer the use of digital credentials on an optional basis.
• Digital credentials support a quicker, easier, safer, more secure, and more cost-effective way to access services digitally.
• The Government of Canada is dedicated to the security and privacy of Canadians, and the service will be built with this in mind.

Digital credentials are the electronic equivalent of physical identification documents that can be held and shared through a digital wallet. They let individuals and businesses access services more conveniently and privately. Their use is completely voluntary.

Digital credential holders control what information is shared and with whom. There is no central repository of client information and the issuer and verifier are not aware of the holder's interactions with other parties. This is all controlled by the individual or business.

The Government of Canada is committed to establishing a modern and secure approach to help individuals and businesses to quickly and easily access federal services.

The Electronic Documents Act provides that a minister and any department may use an electronic means to create, collect, receive, store, or otherwise deal with information, including credentials, licenses, permits, etc. in verifiable digital format where the format is not already prescribed by law.

On October 28th 2024, the Government of Canada issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather information on prospective components for a common platform to issue and verify digital credentials. The Canadian Digital Service is the Technical Authority for the RFI and Shared Services Canada (SSC) is the Contracting Authority and were responsible for posting the RFI on CanadaBuys.

The target state goal is to provide common technical services to GC departments to issue and verify digital credentials that they themselves issue using their existing authority.

“One thing to understand about how the federal government is built is it’s incredibly siloed within the individual departments […] Every time a Canadian wants to get a new service, they have to reintroduce themselves to whichever department they’re dealing with.”
- Minister Beech, Budget 2024: Online benefits platform gets $2.9 billion update | iPolitics

“Digital credentials are optional and secure, reflecting physical documents you possess, such as your driver’s license. Digital credentials will make accessing government services and essential benefits faster and easier. [...] Importantly, digital credentials will not be mandatory”.
- Minister Beech, October 29, 2024