The program was supposed to start in 2021, but was delayed due to the development of the province’s vaccination proof application.  In November, the government said it would implement the program in 2022.
But since then, the government has removed the reference to the 2022 timetable from the digital identity site.
CTV News Toronto contacted the Department of Digital Governance several times requesting information about the program or an interview with Secretary Kaleed Rasheed, both of which were not provided.
The Treasury Department, which includes the Department of Digital Governance, also did not respond to a request from CTV News Toronto for information.
The government says the digital ID program will allow people to have an electronic version of their government ID – such as driver’s licenses and health cards – stored in their digital wallet application.
The digital identity program will allow individuals and businesses to prove who they are, both online and in person, without using a physical card.
According to the government, the digital ID will offer users more privacy than a physical ID.
Ontarians will be able to use their digital ID when making age-sensitive purchases, receiving a package from the post office, applying for government assistance and opening a bank account.

SASCATSUAN WAITS FOR THE PROGRAM

Meanwhile, a plan to develop a similar program in Saskatchewan was scrapped by the provincial government this week amid privacy concerns.
“There are a lot of people who are worried about this and, you know, privacy is very important,” said Jim Wright, the minister in charge of the program.
The Saskatchewan government has said it will monitor public acceptance of a digital identity program through further consultation before deciding whether to invest millions of dollars in its creation.
Meanwhile, a petition to stop Ontario from launching a digital identity program was launched this week by the Ontario Party, a right-wing party led by former Conservative MP Derek Sloan.
According to the Ontario Party website, the petition, which “requires zero tolerance for the implementation of any Digital ID program in Ontario,” has been signed by more than 15,000 people.
With files from CTV News Regina