Question Period Note: Employee support and engagement strategy for Benefit Delivery Modernization

Engagement with, and supports provided to, employees working in Benefit Delivery Modernization.Benefit Delivery Modernization (BDM) is the largest digital transformation initiative ever undertaken by the Government of Canada. Through a phased approach, the Programme is modernizing how the federal government delivers Old Age Security (OAS), Employment Insurance (EI) and Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefits, by replacing old systems with technology fit for the digital age.

The Old Age Security (OAS) program was the first to be onboarded to the new platform last year.

The first OAS on BDM release on the new, more modern platform (Cúram) occurred on June 12, 2023, when 600,000 OAS Foreign Benefits clients were migrated to the modern system.

On March 17, 2025, all remaining OAS clients (7.4 million) were migrated to the new benefits delivery system.

Over 5,300 employees were fully trained prior to go-live, and additional training has been ongoing since implementation.

The Government is committed to ensuring employees are fully supported through the transition to the Cúram system, with a comprehensive range of tools, training, and assistance to enable them to successfully adapt to the new system and maintain service excellence for Canadians.

Feedback from employees is continuously collected and leveraged to enhance the system, training, and business processes.

In response to employee input, additional support measures have been introduced, including individual and group case conferencing, as well as tools to submit feedback and request assistance.

Benefit Delivery Modernization (BDM) continues to take a phased approach, incorporating lessons learned and employee feedback to strengthen adoption, as the Government of Canada changes how we serve Canadians.

IF PRESSED (Subject)

I am aware of an ESDC employee sharing their concerns about the roll out of the BDM Programme with some of my fellow Members of Parliament.

Rest assured, there are a number of channels available to public servants who wish to report any concerns they may have, and employees are encouraged to make use of these channels.

I want to assure Canadians that we take all feedback from employees very seriously.

Benefits Delivery Modernization (BDM) is transforming how benefits are delivered at Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) through the implementation of the Cúram platform. Given the scale and complexity of this transformation, significant efforts have been made to support employees and ensure a smooth transition.

Prior to implementation, extensive engagement activities were undertaken and 5,300 employees received training before go-live.

Following implementation, employees have continued to receive support through a range of tools and resources. Continuous feedback mechanisms (i.e., surveys, case conferencing) have been used to identify issues and drive system and process improvements.

The Department was made aware of correspondence sent to Minister Hajdu in March 2026, by an employee concerned with the implementation of BDM. In response, the Department encouraged the employee to contact the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner of Canada, which operates as an independent and impartial body mandated to investigate allegations of wrongdoing, with their specific concerns.

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