PCTF

Pan-Canadian Trust Framework

A set of standards and guidelines developed by the Digital ID & Authentication Council of Canada (DIACC) to establish a trusted, interoperable digital identity ecosystem in Canada. It defines how organizations should create, manage, and verify digital identities in a secure, privacy-preserving, and user-centric manner.

PCTF Purpose

The PCTF exists to provide a common foundation for digital identity across industries and jurisdictions in Canada. Its goal is to enable individuals, businesses, and governments to interact online with the same level of trust and assurance as in person. By standardizing how digital credentials are issued, shared, and verified, the framework reduces fragmentation and builds confidence in digital transactions.

PCTF Components

The PCTF is structured into modular components, each addressing a critical aspect of digital identity management. These components act as conformance criteria that organizations can adopt and align with:

• Identity Assurance: Defines how identities are verified and validated to ensure accuracy and legitimacy.
• Credential Management: Outlines how credentials are issued, bound to individuals, and managed over time.
• Authentication: Establishes rules for proving identity securely when accessing services.
• Privacy: Embeds protections for personal information, ensuring individuals control what data is shared.
• Notice and Consent: Requires transparency and explicit consent before personal data is used or exchanged.
• Infrastructure: Sets standards for the technical systems and interoperability mechanisms that support digital identity.

PCTF Principles

The framework is guided by principles to ensure inclusivity and trustworthiness:

• User-Centric: Individuals must remain in control of their digital identity.
• Interoperable: Solutions should work across provinces, sectors, and internationally.
• Secure and Privacy-Respecting: Security and privacy protections are built into every stage.
• Transparent and Accountable: Organizations must be open about their practices and held responsible for compliance.

PCTF Regulatory Role

The PCTF is not a regulation itself but acts as a trust framework that organizations, governments, and service providers can align with. Canadian regulators often look to the PCTF as a reference when shaping policies for digital identity. By creating a consistent baseline, the framework ensures that identity solutions are recognized and trusted across Canada.

The PCTF positions Canada alongside other jurisdictions that have developed national identity standards, such as the European Union’s eIDAS Regulation and Australia’s Trusted Digital Identity Framework (TDIF). Its modular and collaborative approach has been noted internationally as a model for building scalable, interoperable digital identity ecosystems.