When the provincial government announced last fall that it would add citizenship markers to identity cards, critics lambasted the province, citing privacy concerns amidst the hacking of voter data. However, for a 64-year-old Albertan, requiring citizenship papers to renew her driver's licence has resulted in a more urgent plight: the prospect of losing access to her local family doctor and pharmacy. Gaynor Jones, a resident of Spruce View, Alta., has been unable to find her expired passport citizenship papers since 2022 after her father died. Meanwhile, applying to the federal government for the document would mean nearly a three-year-long wait. "(This is) taking away my freedom . . . my ability to get around for basic necessities," Jones said. The new provincial directives, which took effect July 2 , require Albertans to provide proof of legal status in Canada for their driver's licence. The province justified those rules by stating they would create a unified ID system to make it easier and faster for Albertans to access provincial services, while doing away with the need to carry other kinds of identification. "This is about more than convenience; it's about trust," Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said in September 2025. "With a single, secure card proving both identity and citizenship, Albertans will face fewer hurdles when applying for government services. This will also strengthen the integrity of elections and other systems that rely on proof of citizenship." Alberta's new all-in-one-licence: Nally 'empathetic' to those having issues, aware of long lineups Alberta's new all-in-one-licence: Nally 'empathetic' to those having issues, aware of long lineups Alberta NDP call for minister's firing over revamped driver's licences issues Alberta NDP call for minister's firing over revamped driver's licences issues Long wait times for proof of citizenship from feds When Jones decided to apply for a copy of her citizenship papers, she found out it had a waitlist of 33 months. The queue stretched for nearly three years, partly because of the recent passage of Bill C-3 that loosened rules for granting citizenship through descent. The entire workload has delayed the processing of other kinds of applications, creating a backlog of more than 130,000 pending requests for proof of citizenship. She advocated to the federal government to speed up the process, but the need to drive wasn't on the accepted list of reasons to fast-track an application, an immigration agent told Jones. "He said, 'Even if you could, it's still 18 months.'"

Jones said she hasn't applied to the federal government for the proof because she is trying to get a concession from the province. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada wrote to Postmedia in an emailed statement that the wait time reflects the complexity of cases. "Complex cases often require substantial documentary evidence and additional verification, which can extend timelines," an agency spokesperson stated. The agency said "application volumes are influenced by a range of factors and cannot be attributed to C-3 alone," even though the surge is coinciding with the enforcement of the publication. "IRCC continues to monitor application volumes, inventories and processing times and is implementing a range of measures to manage increased demand and support timely processing. This includes triaging applications, enhancing intake processes, training and onboarding additional staff, and refining workload management practices." 'I just want my freedoms back' Meanwhile, the province has handed Jones only a 60-day extension to renew the licence before she can't drive — and as a result, would have to rely on her son and neighbours to drive her around for essential services. "I think the government's done a very poor job of advertising this." Kevin Lee, press secretary for Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, acknowledged the issue and wrote in an email that the government would work with people directly affected by the problem. "We're hearing that potential lengthy federal processing times for replacement documents can create unnecessary stress for some Albertans," he stated. "Our government will be reaching out to this Albertan directly to better understand her situation and see if we can help find a solution. "Albertans are receiving emails 60 and 30 days before their licences expire outlining the documents they need to bring. If they need additional time to obtain the required documents, they can be issued a temporary 60-day licence. We've also made it easier for Albertans to get their new driver's licence or ID by accepting any document the federal government recognizes as proof of Canadian citizenship, along with passports expired for up to one year." However, Jones finds the length of the extension too short. "I just don't understand why there is a lack of communication, or seems to be, between Alberta and the federal government if people have to have this paperwork to get their driver's licence renewed, why? How did they decide on 60 days?" she asked. And once it ends, it could mean she could no longer drive to her pharmacy or get her groceries. She has written to the government and her local MLA, but hasn't received a response yet. "I'm capable of driving myself if I have the ability to do so legally," Jones said. "And I guess I just want my freedoms back or my ability to look after myself." Catch up with the day's headlines, curated by our editors and delivered to your email inbox at lunchtime on every business day. Sign up now for the Calgary Herald Noon News Roundup.