New Status Cards Still in Test Phase

New Status Cards Still in Test Phase

Thursday, October 28, 2004 at 13:12

The federal government is moving ahead with plans to equip First Nations people with new status cards.

Ray Hatfield, the director general for Indian Affairs’ Lands and Trusts department, says the new cards will have enhanced security features making them difficult to counterfeit.

He says things are in a pilot stage right now, but many Treaty 7 residents in Alberta have already begun trying out the new cards.

Hatfield explains the new cards offer more of a credit-card feel to them instead of the traditional laminated one.

Hatfield says older cards will continue to be recognized even after the new cards are adopted.

Hatfield isn’t sure when residents in Saskatchewan will see the new cards.

He says the challenge before the department is to secure the money and resources needed to carry out a national re-distribution.