CALGARY — Alberta is planning to ditch its long-maligned paper health cards with a new app it has dubbed the Alberta Wallet.
Holding her own crumpled health card, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the app will allow people to access their health card from their phone.
The announcement answers the public's longtime call for the government to do away with the province's flimsy, easily damaged paper health cards.
Smith says the app will protect users' private information using high-tech encryption software.
Smith and two of her ministers also say a new plastic card integrating the health-care card with an Albertan's driver's licence will be introduced next year.
Alberta's paper health cards will still be usable for the foreseeable future.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 29, 2025.
Matthew Scace, The Canadian Press
