New secure driver's licences and government-issued photo identification cards have been delayed again, but will be produced in-house by the territorial motor vehicles branch.

Information on when and how to obtain the cards will be announced later this month, the government said Wednesday. The new licences had originally been planned to be ready by now.

"(The) Yukon government is putting into place the legal and operational framework to begin issuing the new cards later this fall,” said Community Services Minister Archie Lang.

"Not only will the driver's licence and general identification card meet North American and Canadian standards, but we are also starting fresh with a new secure system.

"Yukoners can be confident that the government-issued ID will be readily accepted and include features to better protect against identity theft and forgery.”

Security features will include a digital photo and signature, a two-dimensional bar code and a hologram. Additional safeguards include wavy lines similar to those found on money as well as features which are activated by ultra-violet light.

The government has awarded a contract to Datacard Canada Inc. to provide specialized production equipment, software, card stock and training. The company is currently assembling the Yukon's equipment and designing multi-layer, custom card stock, using well proven technology in use by Saskatchewan and all Maritime provinces.

"A benefit of the chosen production system is that motor vehicles' staff in Whitehorse can add personal information to the custom card stock and produce the cards on site,” said branch manager Walter Brennan.

"All personal information provided to obtain the identification cards will continue to be kept in-house and protected by secure Yukon government systems and networks.

"We will further ensure that any privacy-related issues or concerns are addressed through regular and ongoing discussions with Yukon's Privacy Commissioner.”

Training of staff and installation of digital signature pads and other equipment in the Whitehorse office and the communities will be completed over the next two months.