Question Period Note: GC Readiness For Return to Worksite

There are concerns that when large numbers of public servants return to the worksite, the underlying information technology infrastructure will not effectively function.

• From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Shared Services Canada rapidly and effectively responded through enabling remote work for thousands of public servants ensuring continued service delivery to Canadians
  • SSC will continue to ensure service delivery to Canadians by public servants, whether it is from their home-based office or Government of Canada worksites, all while following the guidance from the Treasury Board Secretariat Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer
  • SSC has been working with departments on their IT network to better enable their employees when they return to the worksite
  • SSC is working with partner departments to prioritize Government of Canada worksites to enable a smooth return for its public servants

Videoconferencing, mostly via MS:TEAMS, has become the defacto communication channel given the work from home environment.

These technologies use much more bandwidth. As a result, same user experience cannot be supported from within GC buildings, nor is it clear that extensive video conferencing will be required post return to worksite.

There are in excess of 3,500 buildings connected to the GC network.

It is not required, feasible nor cost effective to upgrade all of the sites. SSC is focused on prioritizing with our client departments the most critical sites in support of Canadians and Government Operations.

The work required to address return to worksite is not solely SSC’s. Each department must engage in proactive testing and analysis of their respective operations.

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