Progress on modernizing Government of Canada’s Information Technology systems

Shared Services Canada’s progress in delivering modern and transformed information technology infrastructure to better serve Canadians

Canadians expect cost-effective and secure information technology (IT) systems when dealing with the Government of Canada for citizen-centered services.

Shared Services Canada (SSC) was created in 2011, with the objective of putting in place a modern, cost-effective, secure and reliable IT system to support government operations and services to Canadians.

A government-wide IT Infrastructure Plan is in place to deliver one email system, consolidated data centres, more efficient and effective workplace technology devices, secure and reliable telecommunications networks and greater protection of government systems against cyber and other security threats.

Since 2011, SSC has made progress in modernizing government-wide IT systems.

This progress includes:

• putting in place the Canada Revenue Agency’s Tax Filing Infrastructure Readiness 2016 program for processing electronically filed income tax returns;
• providing computer technology, telecommunications support and global network connectivity to the Canada Border Services Agency, Service Canada, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, at ports of entry for processing the life-saving Canadian initiative to resettle Syrian refugees;
• establishing a 24/7/365 Security Operations Centre, which allows the Government to monitor and deal quickly and efficiently with cyber-security incidents;
• migrating over 97,000 traditional telephones to the more secure and reliable Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP);
• closing more than 60 legacy data centres and consolidating them into three enterprise-class data centres in Gatineau, Quebec, Borden, Ontario and Barrie, Ontario, thereby reducing costs, increasing data security and improving service to partner and client organizations;
• transitioning 43 government departments and agencies to the enterprise videoconferencing system, which is reducing travel costs and improving work-life balance.

SSC’s daily work to modernize the Government’s information technology infrastructure allows departments and agencies to deliver programs, initiatives and benefits to more than 35 million Canadians.

For further information

Media Relations
Shared Services Canada
1-855-215-3656