‘R’ designation removed from Saskatchewan health cards

Saskatchewan health cards will no longer carry an “R” to denote the card holder has self-declared as a Registered Indian.

The government said the change was effective immediately. Prior to Tuesday, an “R” was automatically printed on health cards when applicants self-declared as Registered Indians.

The government said in a media release that information isn’t required to obtain health-care services in the province.

“Making the decision to remove the ‘R’ from Saskatchewan health cards by the Province of Saskatchewan is a great day for Indigenous people,” Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand said in the release.

“This is a positive step toward reconciliation. We look forward to continuing to work together to improve the lives of Indigenous peoples, so we can all have a quality of life.”

The release said people can still self-declare as Registered Indians when they apply for a health card to inform government programs that support First Nations peoples, but that designation won’t appear on the card.

People who have an “R” on their health card and want it removed can request a new card at no cost on eHealth’s website.