Bits & Pieces: Courage Nominations & Privacy Concerns of new BC Services Card

Courage To Come Back Nominations

The weeks are counting down to the nomination deadline of February 11th. Please consider nominating someone who has inspired you with their courage in the face of health or social challenges. Every person nominated receives a certificate of nomination and for many, this recognition is in itself a significant acknowledgement of how far they have come in their lives. 

To nominate visit a local Scotiabank Branch or log into www.coastmentalhealth.com/Courage

  

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BC Services Card

The controversial new BC Services Card that is now being mailed out around BC. In light of unauthorized information & privacy breaches, there is a great deal of concern about how the government will ensure the privacy rights of citizens. 

The Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner is investigating the issue and the BC government won't wait for her report, which is a concern all of its' own. In a media release, her office wrote "Among other things, we are carefully evaluating the security issues associated with the proposal as well as the system architecture. In this regard, we are still awaiting information from the relevant ministries and government agencies."

The BC Freedom of Information & Privacy Association has also raised alarms, stating the following in one of their press releases:

 
FIPA has repeatedly raised questions over just why the new card is needed, what it does to protect citizen data from inappropriate use, and how it will link disparate government databases together, creating a potential goldmine for hackers. But despite the government's new push to unveil the card, these questions are a long way from answered.

Beginning February 15th the Care Card and Drivers license will be combined into one "BC Services Card". Normally when you renew your Driver's License it will be replaced with the integrated card. It also requires that one will need to reapply for BC MSP every 5 years. 

One concern I have is how indigent people will obtain these new cards. The Ministry of Social Development is chronically tight with the purse strings in helping fund ID for people. If they have copies on record, they often won't fund the purchase of ID. 

Obtaining primary ID (birth certificates) is often a nightmare for people who were born in other provinces, or countries. 

Is all of this going to create some sort of two tier system for poor people and other citizens? What other unintended consequences are going to arise? 

The full details are outlined in the government website here.