If you’ve been worried about being forced to use a digital ID to pay your taxes or access federal services, Ottawa’s latest official response offers a rare, clear answer. In a new sessional paper response released this week, the federal government says it has no plans to introduce a mandatory national digital ID. The response, highlighted by Michael Geist, appears to push back on renewed speculation about where federal digital ID efforts are headed. It said “the Government of Canada is not implementing a federal or national digital identification credential.”While distancing itself from the idea of a national ID, the government confirmed it is still working on modernizing digital services. The focus remains on optional digital tools tied to existing services, not a centralized national digital identity, according to Geist.