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The government’s bid to unify all of its departments under a Canada.ca web address is increasing workloads and pushing at least one federal department over budget, raising questions about the implementation of the project.

The move, spearheaded by the Conservatives in 2013, was touted as a key part of the federal government’s technological transformation — and as a way to reduce costs.

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However, documents obtained by the Citizen under the Access to Information Act suggest there have been problems.

In an August 2014 presentation called The shift to Canada.ca: Implications and resources requirements, Fisheries and Oceans Canada officials released a summary stating that in the 2014-15 fiscal year the initiative would push the department over budget by as much as $579,000.

That shortfall more than doubles when estimates for 2015-16 are taken into account. According to the document, the switch to the Canada.ca website would force a budgetary shortfall of as much as $1.3 million.