SSC helps the CRA’s biggest application release weekend go smoothly

While many of us were enjoying the fall colours, Shared Services Canada was busy working with the Canada Revenue Agency to prep for a massive application update.

From October 15 to 17, SSC teams performed their most extensive application update over a single weekend—over 200 existing and new CRA applications.

Proof that SSC supports the CRA outside of regular tax season, most of these updates support new and existing benefits from government initiatives and incentives. Examples include the Canada Dental Benefit, the Canada Housing Benefit, the Climate action incentive payment, luxury tax and continued attention to COVID measures. Many systems work together to support everyone, including the most vulnerable and seniors.

Like an intense game of Jenga, these systems and applications are interdependent, and updating one impacts the entire system. Now imagine adjusting and replacing 200 sets of Jenga towers within such a short time frame! As you adjust and replace one piece, there are significant risks that only careful planning can avert. SSC and CRA teams prepare for this yearly update long in advance. For the CRA application owners, who work tirelessly to keep them running at peak efficiency, this can be rather stressful. SSC service lines and CRA application owners worked together throughout the weekend. Teams started the work at midnight on October 15 and completed it in the early morning of October 17.

The seamless, successful release to this critical infrastructure highlights SSC and CRA’s collaborative efforts to deliver effective services to Canadians.