Table of contents

1. OVERVIEW
2. TODAY'S PLATFORM AND APPLICATIONS
3. INFORMATICS DRIVING FORCES
4. PLANNED CHANGES AND UPCOMING PROJECTS
5. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Transport Canada's IM/IT Environment 2007/2008 is available in PDF format (file size 177 KB) which will download in approximately 50 seconds on a 28.8 connection and may be viewed using version 3.0 or higher of the Adobe® Acrobat Reader. This reader may be downloaded free of charge by visiting the Adobe® web site.

1. OVERVIEW

a. Background

Transport Canada's mission is to develop and administer policies, regulations and services for a modern, efficient, reliable, safe and affordable transportation system essential to strengthening Canada's growth and prosperity. The department consists of groups working at headquarters in Ottawa and in five regions, as well as Transport Canada Service Centres.

In 2006, the Deputy Minister's mandate expanded to include responsibility for Infrastructure and Communities. Minister Lawrence Cannon now leads the Transport, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio. The Minister's portfolio includes Transport Canada, Infrastructure Canada, the Canadian Transportation Agency, the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada and 16 Crown corporations.

The portfolio is a point of convergence for some of the most important issues facing Canada today: the productivity of our economy; transportation safety and security; environmental sustainability; and the quality of life in our cities and communities, as supported by public infrastructure. The portfolio also brings together a range of tools, including programs, legislation, policy frameworks and stakeholder networks.

TC Vision…

A transportation system in Canada that is recognized worldwide as safe and secure, efficient and environmentally responsible.

TC Mission…

To serve the public interest through the promotion of a safe and secure, efficient and environmentally responsible transportation system in Canada.

b. Organization

Transport Canada is organized as shown in Exhibit 1.

EXHIBIT 1

DEPARTMENTAL ORGANIZATION CHART

Policy Group

• The Policy Group's role is to develop, recommend and coordinate modal and multi-modal policies. They also provide advice, analysis and intelligence on transportation issues, system performance and stakeholder positions. Advice on policy options is based on efficiency, competitiveness, safety and security, environmental sustainability, and intermodal integration. This role is fulfilled through a multi-modal program of policy analysis, briefings, coordination, consultations, evaluation and economic analysis, which develops and utilizes necessary data, forecasts, models, research and intelligence.

Safety and Security Group

• The Safety and Security Group is responsible for the development of regulations and national standards, as well as for the implementation of monitoring, testing, inspections and subsidy programs, which contribute to safety and security in the aviation, marine, rail and road modes of transport. The Group administers the delivery of aircraft services to government and other transportation bodies. The Group develops and enforces regulations, and standards under federal jurisdiction to protect public safety in the transportation of dangerous goods and to prevent unlawful interference in the aviation, marine and railway modes of transport. The Group also ensures that the Department is prepared to respond to transportation and transportation-related emergencies.

Programs Group

• The Programs Group has responsibility for a vital economic portfolio. Given the Canadian economy's dependence on trade and the fact that trade, in turn, is highly dependent on efficient transportation, the programs they deliver are of utmost importance. They support the priorities of government and contribute to the Minister's policy objectives.
• While in the past the Programs Group concentrated on the divestiture of airport, port and surface transportation facilities, they now have a stronger focus on their custodial and stewardship role while divestiture continues. They are in touch with a broad base of stakeholders and play a key role in the implementation of sustainable transportation infrastructure projects. Their environmental programs seek to create awareness and educate Canadians about sustainable transportation. The group's contribution programs are complex and managed through a risk-based approach, with effective monitoring and ongoing review.

Communications Group

• The role of the Communications Group is to help ensure effective and comprehensive communications between the department's internal and external clients. The Group exercises an oversight role in all communications areas.
• Group and Regional Heads are responsible for the integration of communications planning and implementation into policy development and delivery, and for the allocation of resources to fulfill this need. The Communications Group provides services and advice to its departmental clients and ensures that high standards are maintained for communications activities.

Corporate Services Group

• The Corporate Services Group provides overall administration, finance, human resources, executive services and IM/IT support to the department. IM/IT products and services are delivered under a shared accountability model and within a corporately understood framework. Centralized activities are corporate in nature, while decentralized activities are those that are driven by regional requirements.

Regions

• Regional offices are responsible for carrying out the regional activities of Transport Canada. Regional heads report directly to the Deputy Minister. Regional offices are located in Vancouver, Winnipeg and Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal and Moncton.

c. Key Contacts

Technology and Information Management Services
Director General and CIO - Chris Molinski, 613-998-6465

Computer Operations and Network Services
Director - Rick Huard, 613-990-5380

Information Management Services
Director - Diane Lavigne, 613-991-2867

IM/IT Architecture and Planning
Director - Joël Comeau, 613-993-8040

Application Management Services
Director - Robert Lalonde, 613-998-0739

IM/IT Security and Infrastructure Planning
Director - Richard Ruta, 613-993-7066

d. Resources Available

• Approximately $55 million department-wide for IM/IT related activities (capital and OOC included, Salary and Wages excluded).
• Staffing - IM/IT Full Time Equivalent (National Capital Region (NCR)+ 5 Regions) 225

e. Technology Overview

• There are approximately 5,200 PCs installed, mostly LAN-attached. The Microsoft set of products is the departmental standard including Windows XP Professional SP2 and Windows Server 2003, MS Office 2000, MS Exchange 2003 SP2 (Internal, X.400 and Internet Mail). Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) is the supported web browser and Internet Information Services (IIS) is the standard web application server platform. New applications leverage this environment.
• The Records Documents and Information Management System (RDIMS) is part of the departmental desktop standard.
• Of the approximately 5,200 Transport Canada intranet (TCI) clients, half are located in the NCR while the remainder makes up the other 5 regions. The network is logically interconnected as one, under a MS Windows 2003 Active Directory single domain model TCP/IP in a 10/100/1000 BaseT environment.
• Mid-range platforms include HP Proliant, IBM xSeries and Dell PowerEdge running Windows 20003, HP/UX running on PA-RISC and Itanium servers as well as Redhat Enterprise Linux running in VMWare Virtual Machines (VMs). High Availability is provided by Clustering technologies on these platforms.
• Citrix MetaFrame technology provides thin client architecture and is being implemented as part of the standard desktop environment and for all business applications over time. This technology also provides a single sign-on solution to a multitude of corporate applications.
• Servers are co-located in centralized server rooms, specially designed to provide fault tolerance capability and provide upwards of 99% availability.
• The Transport Canada Intranet (TCI) is the departmental TCP/IP-based WAN to interconnect LANs, and servers. The TCI provides service to 93 dedicated sites and provides external access through a PKI-based Secure Remote Access (SRA) service and firewall service.

2. TODAY'S PLATFORM AND APPLICATIONS

a. Client/Server Environment

• Windows XP Professional is the standard desktop operating system.
• Windows 2003 Server is the standard for LAN workgroup, application, mail post office, web services and network communication.
• Server environments also include HP/UX on HP 9000 servers; HP Proliant running Windows 2003, and Sun Solaris, VMWare consolidated/virtual server environment all of which host corporate data resources and other data services. TCP/IP is the WAN protocol.
• LAN topology is Ethernet.
• An Automated Storage Management solution has been implemented that provides enterprise storage management. This solution is based on Sun Microsystems (formerly StorageTek), Brocade, Semantic (formerly Veritas Software) technologies and services and includes the implementation of a new storage area network including automated backups, high availability disk arrays and tape libraries. An HP Enterprise Virtual Array (EVA) SAN has been implemented in the past year.
• Transport Canada's automated Systems Management tool, Tilovi Service Desk (TSD), is an ITIL-based system is used Nationally to manage all Change requests and Problem Management incidents. This system has been in use at Transport Canada for a number of years and as it is deemed by its manufacturer to be near end-of-life, work is underway to refresh this technology solution for TC.
• Exhibit 2 shows the PC software environment.

EXHIBIT 2

* The future software environment will be determined based on business requirements and strategic business and IM/IT directions.

b. Web Environment

Transport Canada uses an IP-clustered pair of Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) servers for both the Internet and Intranet web sites. The software on these servers is:

• Windows Server 2003, Application Center Server 2000, Internet Information Services 6.0, IE 6.0 (going to IE 7), MDAC 2.82, Oracle 10g drivers, XML 4.2, XML Parser 6.0, Crystal Reports 8.0 and Business Objects XI, Office Web Components for XP (Internet), Office Web Components for Windows2000 (Intranet), .NET Framework 1.1 and 2.0, SMTP Mail Component TCMailer 1.3 (a wrapper for the commercial component ASPMail that provides logging and error handling).

c. Application Development Environment

• Client/Server - MS Visual Studio.NET, Java, MS Access, PowerBuilder and Centura are used. PowerBuilder and Centura are considered legacy platforms. Work is underway to transition to a service oriented application architecture approach focused on n-tier and smart client designs.
• Web/Internet/Intranet - MS Visual Studio and Visual Studio.Net, Java, Active Server Pages(ASP) and VBScripting, Frontpage, HTML, XML, Oracle Forms and Web Services are used.
• Adobe Acrobat and Delrina FormFlow are currently usedfor fill-print/print-fill e-forms and as a portable document format. Fytek's PDF ReportWriter tool is used to generate database driven PDF reports. Due to the limitations of the current product, the department is in the process of acquiring a more viable forms solution, which is due to be in place by March 31, 2008.
• Transport Canada uses the AllFusion Modeling Suite as the Metadata Repository within the department. The suite consists of Model Manager, Erwin Data Modeler, Component Modeler, Process Modeler and Validator. Component Modeler and Process Modeler have not yet been fully endorsed by the department as a standard. This framework consists of models based on international standards, a common business approach and Transport Canada's business line data subject area categories. The aim is the creation of a department wide set of models that is built on data / information sharing, standardization, reusability and data integrity.
• The ORACLE Data Base Management System is the standard Data Base Management System for National, Corporate, and Internet / Extranet applications. Where applicable MS SQL Server may be introduced to address particular needs, which cannot be met by Oracle.
• Transport Canada has implemented two Business Objects XI Enterprise environments. Business Objects Enterprise for adhoc and multidimensional reporting and Business Objects Crystal Enterprise for reporting.
• Compuware's DevPartner Studio Professional suite is used for software debugging and tuning. Recent additions to the developers' toolbox are DevPartner's Fault Simulator and Security Checker.
• Fujitsu's (formally DMR) web based Macroscope ProductivityCentre© and ManagementSuite© are used as the Corporate SDLC methodology tools.

d. Transport Canada Intranet (TCI)

• A TCP/IP-based department-wide network, Transport Canada Intranet (TCI) network, has been established interconnecting all TC offices. It is a router-based network supporting 10/100/1000 Base-T (Ethernet) LAN connectivity.
• LAN servers and mainframe computing are interconnected within the TCI, providing secure access to key corporate services.
• Perimeter defences provide secure external access and gateways to external services (e.g. the government X.400 Network and Global Internet). It includes firewall, Intrusion Detection and host agents for anti-virus.
• Frame Relay is currently employed as the backbone and has the potential to support Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) for high-speed voice, data, and video, etc. requirements. Government Fibre Network Services has been implemented in Metropolitan areas where TC offices exist. Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) is part of production network services.
• The TCI is a service delivered by ITS/PWGSC.
• The TCI supports access to the GoC X.500 Directory and secure remote access capabilities for the mobile/teleworker.
• PKI Entrust software has been installed on every TC desktop. This allows secure exchange of electronic information created using TC's national messaging system, MS Exchange, internally and between any government or private entity that participates in the PKI model. A secure e-transaction infrastructure service, based on the Entrust TruePass technology, has been implemented for applications requiring such security. Furthermore, TC has implemented PWGSC's Secure Channel services for processing of Protected "B" applications on the Internet.
• A national Secure Remote Access service has been implemented to support an increasingly mobile workforce. In addition to providing a standardized service for remote access to e-mail and LAN services by work-at-home users during non-business hours, there is a critical need to support travelling inspectors during core business hours. Other remote connectivity requirements are met with tools such as Webmail and MyDesk.
• Work was completed last fiscal year to establish wireless capability within the NCR Tower C premises. Work is underway to provide this capability to regional offices, which is due to be completed by March 2008.

This service is available to all regional offices on a remote-dial phone number basis and provides secure access to that individual's electronic work environment regardless of where they may be at any particular point in time.

This service will be provided by ITSB (PWGSC) and incorporates PKI capability for all Transport Canada remote users.

There are 24 sites connected via DSL/Cable using Secure Remote Access Next Generation Gate-to-Gate technology. Currently this service is available on a case-by-case basis.

e. E-Services Delivery Environment

• Transport Canada currently utilizes approximately 125 national applications to deliver its programs and meet its administrative requirements (these are included in the totality of 470 applications recorded in Transport Canada's departmental application inventory). These applications run in a mixed environment of LAN based (client-server considered our legacy environment) and Intranet/Internet web (predominant platform for all new application development) environments. Thin-client technology (Citrix Metaframe) is being rolled out as the default Enterprise computing platform. Transport Canada is also a strong supporter of Commercial-Off-the-Shelf / shared solutions and of cluster-group arrangements, where the fit is right.
• Transport Canada is currently reviewing all its applications to determine long-range development and evolution plans (including a review of possible efficiencies). A number of initiatives are underway to pilot hand-held and tablet-based wireless technologies and applications to better respond to information needs of Transport Canada's mobile workers, namely the inspector community.
• Transport Canada has developed an Application Management Framework (AMF) to provide a policy,standards, guidelines and best practices for application development and support. The AMF is a blueprint for how business application systems are planned, developed, implemented, maintained and supported within Transport Canada. Its cornerstone is the Macroscope ProductivityCentre© SDLC methodology tool and ManagementSuite© project management methodology tool (web-based).
• Transport Canada has an internal Web service (intranet) and an external Web service (Global Internet) for access by the public. The TC internal and external Web environment consists of the following predominant products: MS Windows Server 2003, MS IIS6, Unifind Search Engine (from KCSL Inc.) and MS FrontPage 2003. Note that an Enterprise Web Site Content Management solution (OpenText LiveLink WCMS based on the RedDot Solution) will be undergoing a phased implementation during 2007/2008.
• Both the intranet and Internet sites are compliant with V 1.1 Government of Canada 'common look and feel' standards and guidelines. The V2 'look and feel' is being applied to all new internal and external business applications. The TC Web sites provide a more intuitive interface for those requiring information about TC and its services. Clients and members of the general public are currently able to:
  • Receive general TC information including speeches and press releases;
  • Obtain names and phone numbers from the TC directory;
  • Read TC Acts, Regulations and policies;
  • Review and comment on revisions to regulations;
  • Query registration data for Canadian aircraft and vessels.
• Web application test servers have been implemented to provide more capacity to perform application/database code development and a significantly improved integration and user-testing environment.
• A Contact Centre study was conducted to review the Department's existing help desk and call centre capabilities and recommend consolidation (where appropriate) and technologies in line with best practices. As a result, a project has been initiated to improve the efficiency of the existing IM/IT help desks and to incorporate new technologies that will improve the existing services provided to our clients across the department.
• The TC Directory empowers Transport Canada managers and employees to manage their own personal information and quickly acquire the Transport Canada services and assets directly through the Web environment. The TC Directory consolidates existing directories, automatically manages system and application accounts, Security Screening Functionality and helps promote and enforce safety and security for Transport Canada buildings and networks.
• Oracle Financials 11i has been implemented to expand the capability of the departmental financial system to include e-payment and e-receivables, electronic ordering and inventory management of TC products sold to the public, and a web browser-based interface making the system far more effective and efficient to use.
• The method for selecting and funding e-services candidates has been integrated into the ongoing departmental IM/IT investment planning activities

f. Administrative Systems Environment

• The Oracle 11i BIRM (Business Intelligence and Resource Management) system enables the department to integrate its financial and materiel resources. It is based on the Oracle Financials 11i (Oracle 11.5.10) suite of applications with support for Citrix MetaFrame thin clients. The infrastructure for these systems is currently being upgraded to utilize newer technology UNIX based systems for the database components and Intel based servers running the Linux operating system for the application server components. This project is being conducted to replace the existing infrastructure and operating systems that will soon be de-supported by the vendors involved. The core Oracle suite of applications that include Accounts Payable (AP), Accounts Receivable (AR), General Ledger (GL), Fixed Assets (FA), Purchasing (PUR), I-Procurement (internal to TC only), I-Payment, I-Receivables, I-Store, Transport Canada Billing System (TCBS) and various interfaces to internal Transport Canada systems and external systems such as the Receiver General of Canada, have been implemented. Note that the Oracle Portal (10g) technology solution was implemented in April 2005 to create an Employee portal and a Manager portal to expose financial information.
• Transport Canada provides process support to the human resources (HR) professionals working in its HR offices across Canada via the Transport Canada Integrated Personnel System (TIPS), a suite of some seventeen integrated applications serving the various HR disciplines. The TIPS applications utilize the Gupta Centura Team Developer (v.3) platform and share a common Corporate HR Database (Oracle 9i). TIPS is presently a shared system solution for CSA and CED_Q and contains many features, such as a direct link to the PWGSC Regional Online Pay System. Support and self-service to managers, employees and the Canadian public are provided through a smaller suite of eight Web applications on various platforms - all utilizing the same Corporate HR database. These include LEX, which provides full workflow support to Leave and Extra Duty, the External Recruitment Application which contributes to the department's electronic service delivery agenda and helps fill TC's critical job vacancies, a single sign-on HR services portal and an automated organization chart generation / HTML publication facility now available to managers. Significant changes are being incorporated over the next 12-18 months to comply with the coming into force of PSEA and PSMA.
• A departmental e-mail system continues to evolve in support of internal and external electronic communications requirements. A MS Exchange 2003 rules-based architecture allows users to dynamically manage the inflow and outflow of electronic information through an intuitive, highly graphical interface. MS WEB Mail has been enabled that allows TC employees to access their Corporate e-mail via the Internet.

g. Information Management Environment and Initiatives

• The Records, Document and Information Management System (RDIMS) is part of the Shared System Initiative of the Government of Canada. This system was installed on every desktop within Transport Canada by August 2002. RDIMS is an integrated set of tools and rules that facilitate the creation, capture, storage, organization, retrieval, sharing, re-use, protection and disposal of information in an electronic environment, regardless of the format and without geographical or organizational barriers. It is a fundamental component of the infrastructure necessary for the government to deliver on the Government's information management agenda. The RDIMS implementation for Transport Canada enables the storage of Unclassified and Protected-A information. Provision for storing Protected-B information is a requirement for the future evolution of RDIMS. RDIMS is a key information service supporting the Government of Canada Management of Government Information (GoC MGI) and the new government Information Management Policy. RDIMS main functionality includes:
  • Document Management: physical control of information objects including access control, version control, and protection from unauthorized changes.
  • Records Management: life cycle management of records and documents, classification, retention and disposal.
  • Full Text Search: content based search and retrieval of a document.
  • Workflow: defined flow of information to people and processes based upon rules. Includes limited tracking, routing and distribution.
  • Imaging: scanning, viewing, Optical Character Recognition to create editable text from images.
  • Reporting: Standard and ad hoc reports.

Transport Canada partnered with PWGSC to upgrade to RDIMS 4.7 by the end of FY 2007-2008. FY 2006-2007 was used for planning, preparation and organization for this major new release.

• ccmMercury is the Department's primary application for tracking and managing the workflow of Executive and General Correspondence, Dangerous Goods Permits, Briefing Material, Financial and Regulatory Submissions, Media Publishing Work Order, Port Monitoring information, electronic Document Management tracking, Project Information Management System (for Evaluation Services) Call Log System (for Road Safety), Library Frequently Asked Questions and Ministerial Decision Records. It is the department's objective to maintain one comprehensive document repository to ensure effective sharing and management of document based information holdings for the department. ccmMercury is integrated with RDIMS enabling enhanced workflow that allows clients to "attach" and link directly to records in the RDIMS repository, thus ensuring document attachments are stored and maintained in the corporate repository. The information in the ccmMercury application relates to a wide range of details used to track the flow of these items within Transport Canada, including details about the author, history, and current status.
• Records Management utilizes a WEB based Records Management Information System (RMIS) to manage its legacy hard copy files and an Automated Labelling Process System (ALPS) to produce labels for large mailings.
• Transport Canada has completed an Information Management Capacity Check based on the modified Library and Archives Canada IM Capacity Check template. This analysis assessed where Transport Canada is in terms of its Information Management Capacity in 6 key areas: Organization Context; Organization Capabilities; Management of Information Management; Compliance and Quality; Records and Information Life Cycle Management; and User Perspective. It provided the guidance for the development of Transport Canada Management of Government Information (MGI) Implementation Plan which Transport Canada completed in FY 2006 - 2007.
• Transport Canada is committed to the Government of Canada (GoC) Management of Government Information (MGI) policy and has created an MGI Implementation Plan with detailed activities covering the broad spectrum of Information Management. Activities were completed include:
  • The development of the Performance Measurement Accountability Framework (PMAF) for the MGI Implementation;
  • An MGI Implementation Governance Framework (MGI Steering Committee);
  • An MGI Implementation Communications Plan, including actions such as departmental IM awareness sessions ;
  • A five year Information Management Succession plan was developed for NCR;
  • The development of an Information Management Staff Training Plan;
  • The adoption of Transport Canada Metadata Standards department wide in July 2005;
  • The review and inclusion of Information Management principles into the System Development Life Cycle (Macroscope), the Transport Canada Change Control Board (CCB) process and Non-standard software justification;
  • The development of the Information Management Compliance Review Methodology;
  • The completion of the Transport Canada Standard for Backup Retention Periods and Transport Canada Information Management Procedures for Employee Departures.
• As part of Transport Canada's implementation of MGI, Data Administration Metadata Framework and Metadata Standards were created and adopted by Transport Canada. These standards deal with Application Development, Application Maintenance, Data Modelling, Information Needs Assessments, Information Management Plans, and Data Warehousing. There are currently two documents, which deal with Transport Canada's Data Administration:
  • The"Transport Canada Data Administration Metadata Framework";
  • The "Transport Canada Data Administration Metadata Standards."
• With the release of the new Government of Canada's Information Management policy in July 2007, Transport Canada is reviewing all its Information Management standards, directives and documentation (IM Awareness Sessions, Departmental Information Management Directive etc.) to determine if there are any changes required and plans to implement any required changes in FY 2007 - 2008.
• A Transport Canada Thesaurus was developed and is operational. The Thesaurus provides standard terms for Transport Canada to use in the Subject element of Metadata, which describes both web publications, and web pages as well as to be indexed into departmental systems. These terms are used to enhance the search results in departmental systems such as iStore, the Content Management System, the Search Engine, RDIMS, the Library Catalogue, etc.
• The Transport Canada Virtual Library has been implemented. This web-based application allows for informational self-service by providing desktop access to library resources such as electronic journals, networked CDROMs, digitized collections, online databases, research portals and access to other library collections. In collaboration with the libraries of the Canadian Transportation Agency, the Transportation Association of Canada, the Transportation Development Centre and the Transportation Safety Board have created a web site called Canadian Transportation Research Gateway. This web site is a comprehensive, bilingual collection of Web-based resources on the subject of transportation in Canada. The Canadian Transportation Research Gateway (CTRG) is intended to provide researchers, students, government, and industry with convenient access to evaluated Canadian transportation research resources through a single gateway.
• The Transport Canada library created a product, with their partner libraries, which complements the Canadian Transportation Research Gateway. TransCat Plus is an online group catalogue that provides web access to the collections of participating Canadian transportation libraries. It is a customized, shared catalogue that combines all the participating libraries' records into a single, easy-to-search database. Users of TransCat Plus can search all five participating transportation libraries, limit their search to a specific library, or choose to search the transportation libraries in the United States. TransCat Plus can be searched using either an English or French interface.
• Collaboration Tools - Collaboration can be defined as a mutually beneficial, well-defined relationship entered into by two or more persons or organizations to achieve common goals. Collaboration technology refers to programs that help people work collectively regardless of location and can include shared calendaring and scheduling, file sharing, collective writing, e-mail handling, communities of practice (COP), public consultation, bulletin boards, shared database access, electronic meetings, Instant Messaging etc. Transport Canada undertook a Collaboration Project which: created Collaboration Standards and Guidelines; a Collaboration User Requirements Specification; a collaboration Implementation Approach; and a funding Project Approval Document (PAD). An evaluation which was part of the Collaboration User Requirements Specification recommended the PWGSC Shared Systems initiative Unified Portal Software Solution (UPSS) as the solution. Transport Canada has deferred pursuing a departmental wide collaboration solution pending the results of further progress by PWGSC on a government-wide solution. In the interim, the department will review on a case-by case basis the requirement for collaboration tools.
• There have been a number of Data Warehousing projects completed including Rail and Marine Occurrences. The completion of the BIRM ORACLE 11i reporting project using the Data Warehousing methodology marked a major milestone in Data Warehousing for the department.
• The Business Objects Business Intelligence platform and tools have been implemented to address the reporting and analytical requirements of various user groups at Transport Canada. Casual users and information consumers can leverage various web interfaces (InfoView, Oracle Portal) to access content, Crystal Reports for enterprise reporting requirements, and Web intelligence and Desktop Intelligence for power-users and analysts. The department stands to benefit from a Data Warehousing and operational systems reporting approach and the use of Business Intelligence Software in the following ways:
  • Accelerate the definition of new performance indicators;
  • Enable the creation and iterative development of integrated performance measures where real business value can be derived, e.g. average cost/inspection by mode by inspection type;
  • Enable a consistent understanding of trends and performance measures throughout the organization;
  • Eliminate redundancies in data collection and analysis;
  • Enable improved analysis and reporting of operational data;
  • Reduce / eliminate paper reporting, a typical benefit derived by most organizations embarking on a Data Warehouse.

h. Management of Information Technology Security Standard (MITS)

• MITS defines baseline security requirements that all departments must fulfill to ensure the security of information and information technology assets and is the is key to GoC-wide effort to improve IM/IT Security. All GoC must comply with MITS by December 2006.
• Transport Canada is taking a risk management approach to meeting MITS compliance by December 2006. Transport Canada's MITS action plan was submitted to TBS in August 2005 and as of August 2006, the department has attained an 85% completion rate on the 102 key requirements.
• The priorities for attaining MITS compliance at Transport Canada include :
  • Development of an Enhanced Security Awareness Program;
  • An increased emphasis on the responsibilities of managers and employees;
  • The safeguarding of TC's sensitive information assets;
  • The certification and accreditation of applications and services;
  • An improved monitoring/auditing framework.

3. INFORMATICS DRIVING FORCES

Exhibit 3 outlines some key influences, which will affect the informatics activities within the department.

IM/IT exists to support service delivery and business needs. Development, implementation, and application support must be done in close cooperation with lines of business. Because business requirements drive IM/IT activity, the department needs to:

• Find and capitalize on opportunities by coordinating plans and initiatives across the organization through improved governance, communication and planning processes.
• Balance large department-wide and smaller initiatives.
• Integrate IM/IT into the business planning process.

The IM/IT priorities, needs and opportunities of TC Service Lines suggest the following "top ten" common department-wide IM/IT priorities:

• Information integration, interoperability and interchange - including the consolidation / rationalization of existing information systems;
• Business Information Intelligence - including Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence tools for information access, analysis, and reporting of financial and non-financial information;
• Document and Information Management - The implementation of RDIMS 4.7 with ccmMercury department wide, the acquisition of a new forms package for Transport Canada, continued IM Awareness training, Information Management Compliance Review, Information Management Integration into Application, Development and Maintenance, Information Management Architecture, Evolution of Data Management at Transport Canada and evaluating the impact of the new Information Management Policy.
• Security - Electronic Signature, Authentication, Privacy, and Encryption of documents, ability to house Protected "B" documents in an electronic repository (RDIMS), information and electronic communications;
• Internal Service Improvement - specialty information systems, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Wireless / Mobile worker applications, collaborative solutions;
• External Services Delivery - initiatives which provide electronic information, transactional and collaborative capabilities to external stakeholders;
• Communications - an evolved infrastructure providing speed of access for mobile / remote usage while incorporating appropriate security.
• The departmental IM/T governance structure has evolved to include a Business IM/IT Council, IM/IT Investment Committee and IM/IT Architecture and Standards Committee made up of program and IM/IT senior managers. The Council functions as a liaison between Transport Canada and the Executive Management Committee (TMX) through the ADM, Corporate Services. The Council, as a departmental governance body, establishes sound IM/IT principles and guidelines and recommends IM/IT investments (through the recommendations of a IM/IT Investment Committee) in support of program requirements, approves IM/IT standards and architecture (through the recommendations of an IM/IT Architecture and Standards Committee), and ensures integrated IM/IT project planning, all in support of program delivery.
• By leveraging the revised departmental IM/IT governance structure, the Transport Canada IM/IT Strategic / Investment Plan was approved in early 2007, and will evolve to meet the Department's requirements and will be driven by Transport Canada's business direction and priorities. The main purpose of this Plan is to guide the development and management of the IM/IT environment within Transport Canada to contribute to effective program delivery and to meet a broad set of evolving client needs. These clients are diverse, from external stakeholders who help shape policies, to businesses and citizens transacting with Transport Canada, and to Transport Canada employees working together, with external clients, with other government Departments and with other levels of governments in order to assure the best transportation systems for Canada and Canadians.
• The Transport Canada IM/IT Strategic / Investment Plan lays the foundation for a business driven IM/IT investment program, ensuring that all investments across all business lines contribute toward corporate success, maximize business benefits and minimize risk. Realizing the TC IM/IT strategic / investment plan will result from a combination of reductions and careful management of costs, both through the IM/IT efficiencies, investing in new projects (feasibility studies, pilots, new projects and enhancements) and ensuring that the IM/IT goals and objectives not addressed by specific investments are achieved through other avenues through a series of planned, budgeted activities. Departmental IM/IT related spending must remain in line with the business needs and each project undertaken must be linked back to the goals and objectives of the TC IM/IT strategic / investment plan.

EXHIBIT 3

4. PLANNED CHANGES AND UPCOMING PROJECTS

The envisioned IM/IT capabilities for Transport Canada include:

• The Transport Canada Intranet (TCI) network infrastructure capacity and technology is continuously upgraded to meet evolving business needs (e.g. supports combined wireless, voice, data, images and video).
• Application services are delivered in a consistent and efficient manner.
• There exists a common means of ensuring that applications are secure.
• Clear IM/IT governance, management and accountability model is in place
• Service Level Agreements (SLA) are in place to ensure consistency and measurability of IM/IT services delivered.
• A department-wide information management strategy is in place and widely adopted.
• A comprehensive Data Management Framework and Roadmap to drive the evolution of Data Management at Transport Canada.
• There exists sufficient skilled IM/IT resources to maintain and evolve the IM/IT environment based on business needs. Succession planning is being emphasized to mitigate the effects of departures due to retirement.
• A department-wide life cycle approach is adopted to maintain desktop, server and associated software.
• Legacy and new application systems are integrated and interoperable.
• Enterprise Electronic Document Management tools will be fully integrated with applications and an integral part of the way people do business.
• The philosophy of "Information as a valued asset" will be ingrained in the Transport Canada culture fostering the sharing and reuse of information.
• Solid Information Management practices are part of the normal business processes in Transport Canada. This includes training new and existing Transport Canada employees on Information Management roles and responsibilities.
• All Information Management processes are fully integrated together and across application systems.
• Transport Canada becomes a learning organization where knowledge management plays an integral role.
• The use of Enterprise TC Directory will be fully implemented into all applications and related processes within Transport Canada.
• A single search engine is adopted for all web content searching.
• A single solution is implemented for web site content management for both Intranet and Internet web environments.
• Common standards are adopted in the areas of information, application, technology and security.
• An enterprise information model is in place and the acquisition and implementation of a Metadata Repository.
• Enterprise wide Business Intelligence software solution is utilized for all Transport Canada reporting.
• Data Warehousing is adopted by the department.
• Information Management accountabilities are included in the accountability accords of Transport Canada's Senior Management and;
• An Internal (intranet) Access Portal is available for employees to access all work-related information.
• A single-sign on approach to all applications.
• Transport Canada's automated Systems Management tool, Tivoli Service Desk (TSD), is considered to be nearing end-of-life. Transport Canada has begun preliminary work to investigate the possible upgrade or replacement of TSD with more current technology.
• Transport Canada has begun preliminary work on implementing an automated email storage technology know as eVault. This technology will allow Transport Canada to better manage unstructured data stored in Microsoft Exchange mailboxes and offline PSTs.

Several IM/IT related projects will proceed in 2007-2008 fiscal year (pending funding allocation) to improve program delivery. This list of projects includes:

• The RDIMS Upgrade/Migration Project to replace Transport Canada's existing RDIMS Document Management and Imaging application suite with the newest Government of Canada (GoC) supported version.(RDIMS 4.7) The new version of RDIMS is being implemented in order to support evolving departmental business and security requirements. The project consists of two phases: Phase 1 was completed in FY 2006/07 and consisted of migration planning, preparation and equipment procurement. Phase 2 is the upgrade of the RDIMS software, implementation of the new hardware, roll out of new images to clients and training.
• The automated storage management solution will continue to evolve to support the department's information management archival and retention policies. The implementation of Hierarchical Storage Management (HSM) i.e. from RAM to disk to online tape to offline tape, minimizing storage costs, is planned as well as a solution to archive e-mails according to departmental classifications schemas.
• E-Forms - This is a project to acquire the necessary services and tools/components required to replace the Transport Canada forms environment (in advance of the failure of the existing 16-bit departmental forms standard software, Delrina Formflow). The new E-Forms solution, will ensure the operability of the Department's forms while ensuring integration with the current and projected TC IM/IT Architecture. The new solution will comply with and promote departmental and federal policies, standards and guidelines.
• There is a requirement to provide mobile workers such as inspectors with mobile services that are more complex than can be provided on a laptop computer. This will require new communications services including satellite, high-speed cable services and other alternatives. Handheld devices and wireless solutions will be required.
• There is a need to evolve the existing TC Internet/intranet sites from static to transaction-oriented pages and to increase the amount of content both for internal and external consumption. New self-service applications and enabling infrastructure are being envisioned for TC in support of the e-services (external service delivery) agenda.
• The TC Directory will continue to grow to include enhance security, administration, user functionality, and group / role management.
• Sound Information Management Principles will be incorporated into the Application Management Framework and the Macroscope System Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
• Transport Canada business planning practices and Business Cases will include Information Management requirements.
• The Evolution of Transport Canada Data Management will be undertaken and will provide the overall framework and strategy for Data Management in the context of the Government Information Management policy and expanding on the existing departmental Data Administration standards. It will deal with Data Governance, Data Architecture Analysis and Design, Database Management, Data Security Management, Data Quality Management, Reference and Master Data Management, Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence, Document and Content Management and Meta Data Management
• Thin Client - Work is underway to implement Citrix / MetaFrame on a national basis in support of improved overall application delivery and reduced cost associated with desktop lifecycle management.
• Infrastructure Renewal - Transport Canada's corporate systems will require ongoing hardware and software upgrades and/or replacement to maintain or enhance their operational capabilities. Funding for life cycling of hardware and software in 2007/08 has been approved.
• WEB Content Management Suite - The recently completed Review of Departmental WEB Service Functions, part of the Comprehensive Review, has documented the requirement within the Department for an automated WEB content management system (WCMS) in order to ensure the quality and consistency of TC's WEB presence. Studies, including a 2004 TC Internet site user survey and 2006 focus group, also demonstrate that the current search engine, based on natural language, is now outdated, with users overwhelmingly preferring to use keyword-based search engines, such as Google. Efforts to implement a WCMS have been ongoing since 2001. Indeed, the Strategic Plan for the TC WEB presence, established in 2003, as well as the 2002 TC WEB Governance Structure, both assume that an automated WCMS would be in production for the Department, to serve as the primary support for governance, tracking and quality control. These new standards will apply to every level of the TC Internet site. Intranet sites will not be impacted immediately, but may be the subject of a future requirement, if CLF 2.0 implementation follows a similar pathway to CLF 1.0. By pursuing the PWGSC-acquired content management suite, TC would save considerable effort on system acquisition. We would also benefit from leveraging the knowledge of departments that have already successfully implemented the system, such as NRCan, and those who are currently in implementation phase, such as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. We will also be able to use standardized templates within the system in order to implement the second iteration of Common Look and Feel standards (known as CLF 2.0) before the deadline, expected to be in December 2008.
• TC's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Upgrade (Oracle Footprint Expansions) - Transport Canada's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, specifically, Oracle applications, is the official set of books for financial accountability and provides a suite of business applications serving both TC employees and customers. Since its implementation in 1994, the system has typically followed a five-year life cycle in order to remain technologically up to date, reliable and responsive to departmental needs. Transport Canada's long-term capital plan identified a scoping and planning activity for an ERP upgrade in 2007/08 with a phased implementation in 2008-09 and 2009-10. Events in 2006/07 underscore the need for an immediate technical upgrade to take place in 2007/08 and a subsequent phased approach for a major upgrade of Oracle applications and supporting technology. The Oracle 11.5.10 upgrade, which includes the required security patches, is considered a technical upgrade critical to application sustainment and enabling the Department to continue to be responsive to its employees, customers and central agencies. The second phase of the project includes planning and analysis of potential expansions and/or changes in Oracle functionality in light of growing accountability, transparency and efficiency requirements as well as Cluster Group and government-wide directions
• Oracle Learning Management System - This new project would implement, Transport Canada-wide, a WEB-based software learning management system (LMS) to facilitate 'anytime, anywhere' access to learning content and administration. The LMS would enable distributed management of all aspects of learning administration, including online content material delivery and tracking mechanism to learners, competency management and training workflow approvals. The LMS to be implemented is Oracle iLearning, a stand-alone, enterprise LMS that provides a complete infrastructure to manage, deliver, and track training for online and classroom-based environments. The LMS also includes learner and administrator features, assessment, and report and integration features. This project is also linked to the Finance ERP submission around the Oracle Learning Module.
• Environmental Information System - This system will integrate information from disparate datasets, bringing together textual and spatial data held by Transport Canada. The data will be geo-referenced and displayed as different layers or views to the user and displayed through a map interface over the Intranet to real property and environmental practitioners across the country. Pilot Project activities will include conversion of the Property Records System database, geo-referencing of property plans, integration of property data and creation of a graphical user interface. If the pilot is successful, the land information will become base-level data on which to layer environmental datasets. Once fully implemented, the EIS will enable the Department to meet Treasury Board requirements for custodians of federal real property to report spatial information pertaining to land holdings and contaminated sites. It will also capture data relevant to the Department's environmental obligations and responsibilities and allow Transport Canada's Environmental Programs Branch to share information relevant to the Environmental Management System, Contaminated Sites and Environmental Assessment
• MPS Warehouse Bar Coding for Oracle Initiative - Since inception, order frequency and complexity have increased steadily by 75% in the first three quarters of 2006 over the same period in 2005. Order fulfillment is managed by the Multimedia Publishing Services (MPS) and carried out by Oracle Inventory and Order Management modules that form the backend of Transact and iProcurement. Bar code scanning technology is available both through Oracle and third party vendors. It is expected that bar code scanning of products for order fulfillment will increase the accuracy of orders shipped (correct items and quantities) as well as decrease the amount of time for order fulfillment, item returns, stock takes and inventory receipt. The purchase of bar code scanning technology should further increase employee job performance and satisfaction by decreasing job complexity and easing operational time constraints as they arise due to increased workload.
• Aircraft Integrated Management System (AIMS) - In 1998 an Aircraft Maintenance and Dispatch System (AMDS) to meet this requirement was approved at an total estimated cost (TEC) of $6.6 million. A contract was subsequently awarded to a company ("InAir") for the acquisition and implementation of their software. Shortly after the company delivered the Material Module and interface to IDFS in 2001, the company went bankrupt. In 2002, Electronic Data Systems (EDS) acquired the rights to assume the balance of the InAir contract. However, EDS was unable to complete the project and subsequently sold its organizational division that had assumed the work on the ASD system. A decision was taken to place EDS in default and the contract is in the process of being terminated with $2 million project funds remaining. It is imperative that a new system be implemented as soon as possible since the existing InAir Material Module, which interfaces with IDFS no longer has vendor support, and given termination of the EDS contract, the remaining principle features of system requirements are still outstanding. ASD has conducted informal evaluations of two COTS products to control the maintenance of their aircraft. These industry standard COTS products have been certified by Transport Canada and the Federal Aviation Administration and follow the Air Transport Association standards.
• Information Management System - The creation and implementation of MarSec Information Management System is to exchange, receive, analyze, and discriminate input that will improve security in Ports, Facilities, and Vessels in Canada from coast to coast. To fulfill this responsibility, MarSec requires that an Information Management System be initiated that will provide a WEB/Intranet-based activity reporting system for inspectors and Headquarters' staff. It is both a data collection and management information system to capture, monitor and track security-related activities of interest to Transport Canada. Furthermore, MarSec Information Management System is expected to provide an effective reporting and tracking mechanism that allows inspectors to have access to the most up-date and current data on any number of different issues, from facilities to the frequency of vessels, to ongoing investigations.
• Air Cargo - Secure Supply Chain Database - Transport Canada in partnership with Canada Border Services Agency are undertaking to outline a broad strategy and approach for developing a comprehensive air cargo security regime for Canada. The strategy will address three specific risk-based priorities: (1) Protecting against explosives carried in cargo on passenger aircraft; (2) Protecting against explosives in mail carried on passenger aircraft; and (3) Protecting against commandeering of all-cargo aircraft. In an effort to design and pilot test an effective air cargo security program, the goal of this project will be for TC in collaboration with CBSA to identify, assess and develop a secure supply chain database to effectively manage secure supply chain programs for air carriers, freight forwarders and shippers to identify low risk cargo.
• Portable / Desktop Electronic Fingerprint Capture Devices (TCAFIS) - Transport Canada Intelligence Branch (TCIB) has an electronic automated fingerprint identification based system known as Transport Canada Automated Fingerprint Identification System (TCAFIS). TCAFIS is the backbone for processing background checks for transportation security clearances in support of the Transportation Security Clearance Program (TSCP), as well as Government Security Policy security clearances for TC employees. To meet the anticipated expansion of the TSCP to the marine industry, TCIB has elected to pursue the viability of expanding the coverage of TCAFIS by procuring and deploying a cost effective, efficient and portable/desktop electronic front-end solution to capture fingerprints, known as a "portable" or "desktop" LiveScan. The existing infrastructure, which currently utilizes non-portable LiveScans, processes in excess of 40,000 clearances per year, and through the new marine program it is expected to support a minimum of 10,000 additional clearances per year. For both clearance programs to satisfy industry stakeholders it is imperative that the clearance process remains efficient and seamless. Also, as result of increased pressure from our airport stakeholders to implement processes reducing the current turnaround time of the clearances, we are envisioning a phase out of the current paper-based fingerprint capture process done at our Class II airports.
• Online Accident Reporting - Part 8 of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations requires that a written report be submitted to the TDG Directorate in the event of any accidental release involving dangerous goods within 30 days of the release. The 30-Day Follow-up Report captures vital information relating to the accident. The resulting output is used for risk and operational analysis, to identify failures of means of containment under normal conditions of transport, to identify appropriate emergency response to dangerous goods accidents, to evaluate the impact of legislative and regulatory requirements, to facilitate research and development initiatives, to facilitate responses to Transportation Safety Board (TSB) documents, and to identify weaknesses in the regulatory program or its application. In addition, identifying the correlation between accidents and compliance rate is essential in order to properly assign resources to inspection activities.
• Organizational Stability Report - PNR Human Resources Branch publishes a Stability report that provides Executives and Managers valuable snap shot information on our organization's HR position. The information within the report is used in human resource planning, secession planning, monitoring goals such as diversity. It allows the Regional Director General, and Regional Directors to gage the health of their organizations through the various demographic charts. While this report has proven to be useful, the downside is that the report is generated manually and is very labour intensive to produce. This project is to explore ways to design a system and leverage the current in house technology of Business Object to create an automated Stability report.
• Navigable Waterways Database System Phase 2 - Currently there are too many "workarounds" and "bandages" within this system compromising data integrity resulting in unreliable program information, reporting and inconsistent use between regions. The current system version has a number of technical problems that necessitate development and implementation of a new version of the Navigable Waterways Database System (NWDS). This initiative will improve the system's ability to provide the best possible information for planning, reporting and decision making while promoting consistency in program delivery.
• CAWIS - Phase III - Web Service Difficulty Reporting System - Transport Canada Civil Aviation personnel oversee the continuing airworthiness (assurance that the aircraft remain "fit and safe to fly" during their entire post-certification service lives) of the nearly 30,000 Canadian registered civil aircraft, as well as countless Canadian designed or manufactured aeronautical products operated worldwide. Before the implementation of the Continuing Airworthiness Web Information System (CAWIS), information technology had been employed in a somewhat ad-hoc manner, with a number of stand-alone databases and applications having been developed separately. Personnel had to access several systems or databases to acquire all the information needed. Phases I and II of the CAWIS project, the conversion of the mainframe Continuing Airworthiness Information System (CAIS) to a web platform, and the creation of an online Annual Airworthiness Information Report (AAIR) submission feature, commenced in 2002-03, and rolled out at the end of 2004-05. Capital funding was received last year for CAWIS Phase III development, which will implement the existing Continuing Airworthiness Database Interface System (CADIS) into CAWIS. The final component of CAWIS will be the implementation of the Project Tracking System (PTS), including the Web Service Difficulty Reporting System (WSDRS), which organizes the collection and retrieval of service problems encountered in the field.
• Awards - The purpose of this project is to develop a national system to help the department to more effectively manage the Awards program and to monitor progress towards expected outcomes. This system will address two components of the Awards program. First, it will allow Regional/Group Awards Coordinators to manage the Long Service Awards for their organization by providing detailed reports on employees reaching recognized milestones. Second, it will allow for the tracking of awards and related information within each organization, to identify areas for improvement and progress towards program objectives.
• Seafarer Medical Component Project - The Marine Training, Examination and Certification section is responsible for the development and maintenance of Regulations, Examinations, and Training Standards for the Certification of Seafarers. This section also issues Certificates of Competency to seafarers after they have successfully completed all prerequisites and examinations. Comprehensive records are maintained on all seafarers who are candidates or recipients of the aforementioned certificates. The information in ACES is derived from application forms and contains individual's names, dates and place of birth, medical status, qualifications, etc. At this time, some of the Marine Medical Certification information is captured on a stand-alone Microsoft Access application. The Seafarers Medical tracking component will be a web based Intranet system supported by Oracle 9i database.
• Pleasure Craft Operator Competency System (PCOCS) - In order to prove competency, pleasure craft operators are required to attain and carry a standardized Pleasure Craft Operator Card, which is good for life and is issued to operators who have successfully completed an accredited test. By 2009, the number of cards issued is expected to reach four million. There is currently no database for cardholder information. Some designated providers are using home grown applications to track their own operator information. Developing PCOCS to reside on a Internet based application supported by an Oracle 9i database.
• TC Bulk Cargo Inspection System (TCMBC) - Port Wardens are required to report on cargo activities by collecting and disseminating inspection information related to the examination of ships, issuance of certificates, compliance orders and fees charged. The existing application used for recording and tracking Bulk Cargo activities runs on MS Access V7 database with a VB interface. Basically, a Port Warden must board a newly arrived ship in any port in Canada for the purpose of examining the condition and stowage of its cargo. The application has reached the end of its useful shelf life. Converting TCMBC to an Oracle based system with web capabilities will allow it to interoperate more freely with other Marine Safety applications. The upgraded system (TCMBC) would provide features to enable shippers, ship owners, agents and masters to collaborate in the process by providing data about ships, voyage plans and their consignment including identification, specifications, certification, instrumentation, cargo, stowage, calculation of stability and itinerary prior to their arrival. It will also enable port wardens and inspectors to carry out their business requirements from the office or in the field as well as automate the electronic tracking and processing of invoices.
• ATIP Imaging Software - The purpose of this project is to upgrade TC's ATIP imaging technology; to improve the security of records processed by the ATIP Unit using imaging and redacting technology (electronic severing of documents to replace current cutting and pasting practices when part of a record must be protected from disclosure) and to provide related training to the ATIP staff. This would be required for ATIP v.12 workstations.
• Integration of Applications with RDIMS/CCM Mercury - The purpose of this project is to allow the enhancement of a number of "key" departmental business applications to provide the capability of integrating unstructured data (stored in RDIMS, ex. Word documents, faxes, spreadsheets, diagrams etc with its corresponding structured data (from the business database itself, e.g. tombstone data, inspection data, registration data, etc.) to provide a single window of access into a given business line's electronic information holdings (e.g. a virtual repository). It should be noted that while significant benefits have been achieved in managing our unstructured information with the implementation of the RDIMS solution, even greater benefits would be anticipated with the integration of both information types.
• Wireless Infrastructure - WLAN technology provides for wireless connectivity from a computer to a network. This technology has many names, including: 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g and Wi-Fi, with this last being the most common. However, this is not a cellular wireless technology, and it does not use any of the cellular infrastructures that are used for cell phones. Wi-Fi uses unlicensed radio frequency spectrum. This has the benefit that it can be used by anybody and is simple to deploy. WLAN technology has two components: an access point and the computer. The access point has an antenna and connects to the wired network. Its role is to send/receive wireless signals and transfer them to/from the wired network, i.e. the TCI. The access points would be deployed on the ceiling of TC locations and can provide coverage for a radius of about 100 feet. Multiple access points are required to provide coverage for Tower C and regional office floors. The computer will have a Wi-Fi network card and will connect wirelessly to the access point.
• Public Service Modernization Act (PSMA) Implementation - The Public Service Modernization Act is bringing legislative changes that affect the way departments do HR business. Increased delegation and accountabilities, and modifications to business processes and practices bring new information requirements and additional reporting requirements. To ensure Transport Canada can comply with those requirements, the Human Resources Management Systems (including TIPS) will need to be updated in order to support the new information and reporting requirements.

Several IM/IT efficiency projects proceed in 2007-2008 fiscal year in order to continue to create departmental savings in areas of identified opportunity. A list of projects includes:

• Professional Services - Current annual spending of over $14m on professional services. Through close functional scrutiny and management of professional services at a departmental level would allow more efficient and economical use of resources. Areas to be considered for review are application development and support, IM/IT strategies/studies, database administration, etc. Benefits - consolidated management of services.
• Application Review and Consolidation - A review has been conducted of all existing applications, identifying common functions and areas of duplication, costs to support and maintain application and business benefits. Plans are underway to improve the lifecycle management of these applications. Benefits - better understanding of the costs associated with each application vs. use/benefits; shift resources towards applications with greatest use and impact on business; establish means to manage application
• Server Rationalization - Through the introduction of innovative new technology such as VMWARE, multiple servers can be functionally integrated on one physical larger server. This would reduce the number of servers and associated hardware acquisition and support costs for applicable infrastructure areas and business applications. Benefits - reduce amount of equipment requiring support, service and maintenance; lower annual acquisition and refresh costs; fewer servers to manage; reduces network components and complexity.
• Telecommunications - This includes telephones, voice circuits, voice mail, video conferencing, teleconferencing, faxes, pagers, cell phones and related support services including help Desk, but excludes the Transport Canada Internet (TCI) itself. Although a large amount of procurement is centralized via Bell Canada, control of expenditures is distributed among the NCR, regions, and groups. By consolidating control over these expenditures and the introduction of new technology on a national scale (such as voice over IP, cost savings can be achieved as indicated. Benefits - reduce telecommunications costs; 'one stop' shopping; easier implementation of new technology by managing more standard equipment; supports capacity planning.
• Infrastructure Services - Government wide initiatives are expected to bring down the costs of infrastructure services currently being borne by Departments. TC expends in the range of $4.5m per year to support the desktop, server, email and LAN support functions in the NCR and regions. In the event that projected savings from TBS and PWGSC initiatives do not materialize, a 'move forward' approach, including selective outsourcing, will be adopted by TC in order to drive these costs down unilaterally. Benefits - reduce costs for infrastructure support and managing asset lifecycle.
• Managed Output Services - The Department expends approximately $4m per year for "office" print output including use of network-attached printers, local printers, fax machines and stand-alone photocopiers in the NCR. Large volume special finishing requirements (binding, stapling, etc.) are satisfied via private sector reprographic companies. Output is currently managed at the Responsibility Centre Manager level. Adoption of Managed Output Services within the NCR would yield a number of financial and other tangible benefits. An assessment of the applicability of this model for Regional offices would also be conducted. It is expected that an additional measure of savings could be generated in the Regions. Benefits - fewer equipment models to learn; equipment lifecycle managed by vendor in consultation with TC; improve access to more functions; service and support provided by vendor.

5. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Exhibit 4 summarizes the business opportunities in the department.

• Consulting is required on an on-going basis. Some areas include:
  • LAN / Desktop technical support
  • Application development and maintenance
  • Web Site development and publishing
  • Systems Management
  • Data Warehousing
  • Business Intelligence
  • Information Management
  • Data Management
  • Internet/Intranet Web Site Technical Support
  • Electronic document management and electronic forms
  • IM/IT security
  • Evaluation of emerging technologies
  • Strategic Planning
  • Development of IM/IT RFPs
  • Project Management
• Existing corporate systems will require hardware and software upgrades.
• Planning is underway for revised server and desktop hardware and software.
• Further thin client procurement is envisioned.
• Implementing changes to the Financial and Materiel Management system to achieve FIS compliance.
• Implementing program related IM/IT initiatives.
• Expanding the current automated enterprise storage management solution to include HSM.
• Expanding the current infrastructure for secure exchange of information.

EXHIBIT 4