This page has been archived.
Information identified as archived on the Web is for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It has not been altered or updated after the date of archiving. Web pages that are archived on the Web are not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards. As per the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, you can request alternate formats on the "Contact Us" page.
The Global Case Management System (GCMS) is a multi-year program that will replace several aging, archaic and incompatible core business systems of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The GCMS is an essential secure technology platform upon which to build a modern, global, integrated, information-based solution that will strengthen program integrity, improve efficiency and enhance client service delivery.
The GCMS will establish the next-generation business operational environment, and improve flexibility to adapt to future legislative and major program initiatives (such as biometrics). The GCMS will also facilitate communications and data sharing with the CBSA and with our other partners for the purposes of administrating the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
Building on the success of the first deployment of the GCMS in 2004 (the Citizenship Release), strategies for completing the projects were re-evaluated and a revised go-forward plan was prepared that reduces risk and delivers considerable business value. The GCMS is currently in the development phase for the second release, which will be oriented towards the immigration business line.
Lead Department | Citizenship and Immigration Canada |
---|---|
Participating Agency | Canada Border Services Agency |
Contracting Authority | Public Works and Government Services Canada |
Prime Contractor | None (The Department is responsible for system integration.) |
Major Milestones | Date |
---|---|
Treasury Board approves funding for the GCMS project at the same time as CIC’s Treasury Board submission on the implementation of policy reforms and the new IRPA. | August 2000 |
Treasury Board grants Preliminary Project Approval and major Crown project designation to the GCMS. | March 2001 |
Treasury Board grants Effective Project Approval (EPA) to the GCMS. | January 2002 |
Request for proposal for the acquisition of a commercial, off-the-shelf software package for case management posted for tender by Public Works and Government Services Canada. | February 2002 |
Contract for the off-the-shelf software package for case management awarded. | March 2003 |
Treasury Board grants amended EPA to the GCMS to address the impact of procurement delays. | October 2003 |
The first GCMS business component (Citizenship) is implemented. | September 2004 |
Treasury Board grants a second amendment to the EPA to address the impact of cumulative slippage, include critical new requirements in project scope, and provide for an incremental deployment approach. | September 2005 |
Completion of a System Under Development audit of the GCMS project. | November 2005 |
Treasury Board grants a third amendment to the EPA to address a wording anomaly with regard to the GST. | December 2006 |
Independent review indicates the need to assess project status and review options for completing GCMS objectives. | December 2006 |
Treasury Board grants a fourth amendment to the EPA to undertake this assessment and to develop a revised go-forward plan. | February 2007 |
Treasury Board grants a fifth amendment to the EPA, extending the time frame for completion of a substantive go-forward plan to late fiscal 2007–2008. | October 2007 |
Independent review validates project’s recovery plan and project team’s readiness to deliver. | December 2007 |
Treasury Board grants a sixth amendment to the EPA with a reduced scope for the second release of GCMS. | August 2008 |
Deployment of GCMS Release 2 to first international mission | June 2010 |
Progress Report and Explanation of Variances
CIC and the CBSA are jointly responsible for the delivery of Canada’s immigration program. In accordance with IRPA, CIC and the CBSA work together to manage the movement of clients across and within Canada’s borders. Under the Customs Act, all people and goods entering Canada must report to the CBSA at a port of entry (POE). Among the issues addressed by the CBSA are illegal migration, preventing the admission into Canada of persons involved in war crimes or crimes against humanity, and detention and removal from Canada of inadmissible persons.
Today, the use of biometrics is expanding rapidly given its unique approach and its potential to identify an individual reliably. The introduction of biometric technology into the temporary resident stream screening process will enhance the screening of applicants in the temporary program, thereby fixing the client’s identity at the time of visa application and study or work permit application, and allowing verification of that identity when the individual seeks entry at the border. As a result, the Government of Canada will better ensure the safety and security of Canadian society and reduce abuse of the immigration system by limiting opportunities for persons with Canadian criminal or deportation histories to use alternate identities to return to Canada. The project will also facilitate the processing of legitimate temporary workers, students and visitors. Many other countries, including such key migration countries as the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia have either recently implemented or are planning to implement similar projects.
The Temporary Residents Biometrics Project is currently in the initiation phase. Final Treasury Board submission documents are being submitted in early 2009 for Preliminary Project Approval.
The planning phase will define the solution, and the approaches and plans for implementing it. A critical first step is the clear definition of a set of comprehensive business and supporting infrastructure requirements agreed to by all partners. Requirements will then be used to define the business solution and how it will work (functional design), how technology will enable the solution (technical design), and how all the pieces fit and work together (supporting architectures).
Substantive plans and strategies for completing the project and managing the business change will be developed, culminating in a submission to obtain Effective Project Approval.
In late 2007, CIC sought policy approval for the introduction of biometrics into the Temporary Resident Program, and funding to support this initiative was included in Budget 2008. Following the budget announcement, a Biometrics Project Office was established in CIC as the lead organization for managing this investment. The project will be developed and implemented with the active participation of three primary federal government departments and agencies: CIC, CBSA and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Lead Department | Citizenship and Immigration Canada |
---|---|
Contracting Authority | Public Works and Government Services Canada |
Participating Agencies |
CBSA RCMP |
Prime Contractor | |
---|---|
Major Subcontractor(s) The project to date has had one editorial contract, one planning and scheduling contract and one application architect contract. |
|
Date | Major Milestone |
---|---|
2010 | Effective Project Approval |
2011 | Phase 1 Deployment – 15% of clients enrolled abroad |
2012 | Phase 2 Deployment – 50% of clients enrolled abroad |
2013 | Phase 3 Deployment – 100% clients enrolled and verified |
2013 | Project Shutdown |
Funding was included in Budget 2008 to enhance and strengthen identity management within the Temporary Resident Program, allowing overseas visa officers and border service officers at POEs to make decisions based on accurate identity and immigration admissibility information, and permitting border service officers to verify applicants’ identity at Canada’s POEs.
The project is currently working with a tight budget allocation and is proceeding as planned and on budget.
This major Crown project does not directly benefit Canadian industry; it is a project to improve the safety of Canadian citizens. Immigration and the granting of Canadian citizenship are vital to the continued growth and prosperity of Canada. To support the Government of Canada outcomes of strong economic growth and a safe and secure world, a balance between the desire to welcome newcomers to Canada and the obligation to protect the health, safety and security of Canadian society must be maintained. Criminals, terrorists and other known inadmissible persons must not be allowed to enter or stay in Canada.