Alberta will begin rolling out a redesigned driver's licence and ID card on July 2 that consolidates three pieces of information onto a single card: identity, personal health number, and Canadian citizenship status. The province says the change will reduce the need for Albertans to carry multiple pieces of ID when accessing government programs and services.

Under the new system, anyone applying for or renewing a driver's licence or ID card will need to show proof of legal entitlement to be in Canada. Those who confirm Canadian citizenship will receive a "CAN" marker in the top right corner of their card. Eligible citizens and permanent residents with Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan coverage will have their personal health number integrated on the back of the card. Fees will not increase.

"These redesigned cards are more than a visual update," said Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction. "They are a practical improvement that will make life easier for Albertans."

The rollout will replace Alberta's paper health cards, which the province says number roughly 5.5 million despite a population of approximately five million. Nally told Global News he believes the cards will pay for themselves through reduced fraud.

Not everyone is convinced the consolidation is without risk. Tony Anscombe, chief security evangelist at ESET, told Global News the card becomes a high-value target. "If they can breach that database, they're going to get [all those details] in one place," he said, adding that security around that data would need to be stringent.

Calgary resident Sean Maier echoed the concern, telling Global News the card seemed like "a really good recipe to make fraud."

Alberta's information and privacy commissioner raised concerns last year about the citizenship marker, noting that the Registrar of Motor Vehicles is not subject to privacy legislation. Eligible non-citizens can still obtain a card, and a one-time 60-day grace period is available for those who need additional time to gather the required documents.

The new design replaces the dinosaur fossil on the current card with an oil derrick and wild rose, with the words "Alberta Strong and Free" on the back.