Email Transformation Initiative (ETI)

Overview

The Email Transformation Initiative (ETI), led by Shared Services Canada (SSC) and in partnership with Bell Canada and CGI, will deliver the Government of Canada’s new email system. This initiative will consolidate 63 email systems (with a total of more than 377,000 email addresses) currently in use across 43 Departments into a single, vendor-managed and provided service.

ETI represents an email culture change for all employees. For ESDC employees currently using Outlook, the changes will be in how the technology is used. For those who may be using Outlook for the first time in ESDC, additional training will be required to ensure the technology can be used when it is deployed.

What is the scope of ETI?

The scope of the new email system includes:

  • All email addresses for ESDC
  • All BlackBerry mobile devices

What will change for employees?

  • ESDC employees will receive a new email address
    • New ‘canada.ca’ mail extension (john.smith@canada.ca)
    • New email address for people sharing the same first and last names (john.m.smith@canada.ca; john.m.smith2@canada.ca; etc. )
    • New standardized signature blocks as defined by Treasury Board Secretariat – Standard on Email Management
    • New names for distribution lists and resources (boardrooms, vehicles, etc.).
  • Employees will access the new email system with a separate user code and password
    • The new email system will have enhanced security features and employees will be required to log into their computer and log into their email system.
  • Email will be used for transitory messages only
    • Strict limits will be placed on the size of mailboxes and employees will clean their mailboxes regularly to ensure they keep within their size limits.
  • Email of business value will require electronic classification labels and be stored in official corporate repositories
    • Classified emails stored in official corporate repositories (i.e. shared drives, SharePoint sites) can be easily searched and retrieved.

When will this change occur?

Dates are still to be confirmed.