About

Federal Field Notes is a newsletter about digital transformation in the federal Government of Canada (GoC), drawn from first-hand experience (although very occasionally in the third person). It discusses digital government in Canada in a way that’s honest, insightful, and a little irreverent. Subscribe for occasional updates about interesting gov tech stuff.

Federal Field Notes is the brainchild of Paul Craig, a Canadian civil servant whose friends are tired of hearing him whinge about his job after 3 beers, and who has always wanted to try writing in the third person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do the views and opinions expressed here reflect the views of your teammates or employers?

No.

“I want to email you about ____”

Sounds good. I’m easy to reach.

“I have a comment about ____”

I am around on Twitter (@pcraig3), and I have opened up Discussions on Github.

“What are you hoping to achieve by this?”

The goal was always that you would end up on this About page.

“I have a great idea. Can I contribute a post?”

Email me:

Why a newsletter?

It sounds more serious than saying “it’s a blog”.

Why is it called “Federal Field Notes”?

Because “Maple Story” was already taken.

What happens if I subscribe?

Expect great content in your inbox 2-4 times a year!
Also, if you are my 1 thousandth subscriber, you win an Amazon gift card!!

What happens to my data if I subscribe?

I am using Buttondown for the mailing list. If you subscribe, you will get emails from me sometimes. If you unsubscribe, you are gone.

Are you serious about the gift card?

Yes.

What if I continually subscribe and then unsubscribe to keep increasing my chances of winning the gift card?

No, that is not allowed.