Transport Canada Digital Signature Pilots - Pilotes de signatures numérique à Transports Canada

Digital (or electronic) signatures is not a new technology by any stretch of the imagination, but it is something that has seen slow adoption in many GC departments. Transport Canada is moving forward with a wide ranging adoption of digital signatures starting with "offline" (form-based only, e.g. PDF or Office document) pilots and in later phases, moving on to "online" signatures that are created within systems and solutions.

Introduction to Digital Signatures

As part of Transport Canada's Digital Transformation, we have set out to create a modern, inclusive workforce that concentrates on four aspects: People, Culture, Tools and Workplace.

Digital Signatures is a priority within the larger objective of a paperless (or less-paper) workplace that is greener and sustainable for the environment. Transport Canada's multi-phased strategy for the adoption of digital signatures is focused on transforming end-to-end business processes as opposed to replacing wet signatures by digital equivalents.

Three main questions are asked to business process or form owner that wishes to adopt digital signatures:

1. Do you have the legal authority to ask for a digital signature?
2. What is your process or form's level of assurance?
3. Does the signature add any value to the process or can another action undertaken by the user be considered as equivalent to the signature?

In the section below, employees will be able to find guidance and documentation for Digital Signatures at Transport Canada.

Guidance and documentation

Guidance:

• Guidance for form users
• Guidance for form owners

FAQs:

• Frequently Asked Questions

How-to user guide:

• How to sign a document

Pilots

In the table below, you can find a list of processes or forms that have adopted digital signatures. This list will be updated quarterly by the Digital Services Directorate but any Transport Canada employee are encouraged update the list with their own successes in the adoption of Digital Signatures.

Process or form	Directorate	Region	Type of digital signature used	Benefits realized	Contact	Comments / Notes
Network Services Request	Digital Services	National	Click-through	TBD	TBD
Letter of Offer	Human Resources	National	Click-through	TBD	TBD
Specimen Signature Card	Financial Policy & Systems	National	Secure PKI	TBD	TBD
Special Flight Operation Certification (Complex & Simple)	Ontario	Civil Aviation	Adobe Fill & Sign	TBD	TBD
Moveables - Disposal or Write-Off	Ontario	Corporate Services	Adobe Fill & Sign	TBD	TBD
Employee Pre-Severance	Regions	Corporate Services	Adobe Fill & Sign	TBD	TBD
Monthly RUSH	Ontario	Corporate Services	Adobe Fill & Sign	TBD	TBD
ATIP	Digital Services	National	Secure PKI	TBD	TBD
DSD Capital Project Dashboard	Digital Services	National	Adobe Fill & Sign	TBD	TBD
Open Government Publication Approval	Digital Services	National		TBD	TBD
Leaving Procedure Checklist	Information Management	Quebec	Foxiit PhantomPDF simple signature	Reduces paper checklist management	TDB