NDP pitches online OHIP card renewal using ID cards

QUEEN'S PARK — NDP MPP Jill Andrew (Toronto—St. Paul's) raised during question period Monday that the government's requirement for people renewing their OHIP card online to have an Ontario driver's license is both inconvenient and discriminatory towards a lot of Ontarians — including some people with disabilities — because you need a driver’s license to renew your OHIP card online. Andrew and the NDP are calling for government-issued photo ID to be accepted, too, for Ontarians who don’t or can’t drive.

"As I have heard from constituents, this system requirement is exceptionally limiting for people who have disabilities that prevent them from driving," said Andrew, calling it inexcusable that the Ford government has ignored the issue, first flagged over two years ago by the CNIB Foundation, which said the requirement excludes people who are blind, partially blind, or blind and deaf.

"Sadly, this is par for the course for the Ford government in its policies towards accessibility. As the AODA report by David Onley described this government's progress to meeting Ontario's 2025 Accessibility Action Plan, its movement on removing barriers for people with disabilities has been 'glacial,'" Andrew said.

The Toronto-St. Paul's MPP said the NDP wants to see the OHIP renewal system accept government issued photo ID.

"Renewing online is a convenient option for a lot of people,” said Andrew. “Ontario ID card should be sufficient ID. Making it possible to renew online for drivers only is a bad choice. Let’s extend the option to everyone who wants it.”

MPP Andrew has a petition for an improved and inclusive online renewal system for health cards.