Question Period Note: A SINGLE SIGN-IN PORTAL FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES

How will a “Single Sign-In Portal for government services” work, and how does it benefit Canadians?

Canadians deserve both convenience and confidence when dealing with their government.

The Government of Canada is modernizing how people securely access online federal services.

Canadians use over 60 different systems to access more than 200 government services online, each with its own username and password.

GC Sign in will be the new single sign-in solution. Canadians will only need one secure login to access a wide range of government services. When implemented, this shows the Government’s commitment to strengthening privacy and cybersecurity, while improving the usability of these crucial systems for Canadians.

The use of an online service channel will remain voluntary and will complement e existing in-person, mail, and telephone-based services.

IF PRESSED

GC Sign in is not a physical or virtual identity card. It is a secure and common sign-in service to streamline access to federal government services. As part of the Enterprise Digital Credentials Program, it represents an enhancement that supports a more modern and user-friendly digital experience across departments

Digital credentials are not national digital identities; they are a secure, verifiable digital version of existing documents such as licences or certificates. They do not create new information, nor are they stored in central databases or profiles. Canadians will remain in control of their personal data, choosing when and with whom to share a digital version of their information.

The Government of Canada is committed to establishing a modern and secure way for individuals and businesses to quickly and easily sign in to obtain federal services.

In December 2024, the Canadian Digital Service (within Service Canada) completed a procurement process for a Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) software service to serve as the core of a new GC Sign in platform. The Request for Proposal of this contract was publicly posted, with all GC procurement rules followed. GC Sign in is being developed to support government programs and over time, serve as the single sign in service for the Government of Canada, and replace legacy sign-in systems.

By consolidating fragmented sign-in systems within the Government of Canada, maintenance and integration costs will be significantly reduced, cybersecurity consistency will be improved, and new digital services requiring sign-in can be implemented faster. This approach mirrors other enterprise approaches where standardized platforms have enabled faster delivery, better support, and more cost-effective scalability

The Government of Canada announced an investment of $25.1M over five years in Budget 2024 for which work is underway to establish a modern, single sign-in portal for federal government services.

There are currently over 60 different Government of Canada systems that are used to access online services, each requiring their own separate username and password.

By consolidating fragmented sign-in systems across the Government of Canada, this portal will deliver meaningful efficiencies. It will reduce maintenance and integration costs, enhance cybersecurity consistency, and accelerate the rollout of new digital services requiring secure access. This initiative represents a significant step forward in modernizing service delivery and improving the user experience for Canadians.