Julia LennipsThe Department of National Defence (DND) is removing the sex identifier from the Canadian Armed Forces’ military driver’s licence, effective June 2, 2021. The move is an effort to show the CAF’s commitment to promoting an institution-wide culture that embraces diversity and inclusion.
According to a recent CANFORGEN, the document is not a primary identity document, so it will not create unintended consequences for the holder.
Following discussions with various governmental and non-governmental agencies, it was confirmed that there is no requirement or value in gathering any sex and/or gender information for either the DND Transportation Driver’s Licence Program or the DND Road in Vehicle Safety Program.
According to a recent CANFORGEN, the document is not a primary identity document, so it will not create unintended consequences for the holder.
DND expressed, “All CAF members have the right to feel welcome and included for who they are and what they can contribute to our operational effectiveness. This change to the DND 404 is a simple but important step in our ongoing efforts to make the CAF a leader in diversity and inclusion.”
This new DND 404 will be in line with Treasury Board direction and aligned with the Canadian Human Rights Code.
The DND 404 is a DND driver’s licence. It is a Federal Government identification card recognized by Canadian provincial and territorial jurisdictions and law enforcement officers.
This new DND 404 will be in line with Treasury Board direction and aligned with the Canadian Human Rights Code.
Corresponding with the Treasury Board’s Policy direction to modernize the Government of Canada’s Sex and Gender Information Practices, “each department should display sex or gender information only in specific cases where there is a clear program requirement. It has been determined that such an identifier is not a requirement for the DND 404 and therefore should be removed completely,” DND stated.
The CANFORGEN informed that any new DND 404 would be issued without sex or gender information. Current versions of the licence with sex or gender information will be changed at expiry or on request only.
Diversity and inclusion is something the Defence team said they’re dedicated to promoting as a core institutional value.
As of late, Alberta, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia have added an additional designator, X, in their sex identification section of their driver’s license to accommodate non-binary persons.
On 19 June 2017, Bill C-16, An Act to Amend the Canadian Human Rights Code and the Criminal Code, received royal assent and legal protection for “gender identity” and “gender expression” and were enshrined in the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code.
Some provinces protected these rights a little sooner, such as British Columbia and Ontario, but since the federal change was enacted, other jurisdictions have followed.
As of late, Alberta, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia have added an additional designator, X, in their sex identification section of their driver’s license to accommodate non-binary persons.
