Update of the Common Look and Feel Standards for Internet 
Date: June 23, 2006
To: Heads of IT, CIOs and Heads of Communications of institutions represented
in Schedules I, I.1 and II of the Financial Administration Act
The Government of Canada's Common Look and Feel Standards for Internet have
served institutions well in promoting a consistent and predictable on-line
presentation of government services and content to Canadians. The Standards have
also served to strengthen federal identity and to enhance the Government of
Canada's Internet presence. Common Look and Feel was developed by the Treasury
Board Secretariat following extensive consultations with departments in
1999/2000. Given the changes in technology over the past six years, we are now
updating the Standards.
The look of government Web sites is being refreshed and the Common Look and
Feel standards are being updated to reflect modern practices on the Web and to
improve navigation and format elements. The most significant changes planned are
a wider format to improve readability, a single consistent common menu bar to
enhance usability and improvements to header and footer elements. The Government
of Canada will also continue to respect the needs of all Canadians by ensuring
that Web accessibility requirements are met.
Over the past few months, the Common Look and Feel Office has consulted
several members of the Internet Advisory Committee and officials in key policy
centres, such as the Federal Identity Program, on the development of the new
design model for government Web sites. An interdepartmental team of
accessibility and Web development experts recruited from the Internet Advisory
Committee's Accessibility and Technical Working Groups has also been
collaborating on a technical solution for implementing the new design. The
resulting template and Cascading Style Sheets will be included in an
implementation toolkit to be provided to institutions upon approval of the new
standards this summer.
Recognizing the normal lifecycle of Web sites, the Treasury Board Secretariat
is proposing a phased approach for implementing the new standards to avoid
unnecessary costs, with a two-year deadline starting upon their formal approval.
New Web sites, including collaborative arrangements between institutions,
developed after adoption of the new standards must apply the new design. Smaller
institutions with a minor Web presence can apply to the Treasury Board
Secretariat Common Look and Feel Office for an extension.
Attached, for your reference, is a presentation that was given at the June 22nd
Internet Advisory Committee meeting that provides an overview of the proposed
direction for government Web sites, including screen captures of the new format,
a dimensioned page layout drawing, and additional technical details.
Thank you.
Ken Cochrane
Chief Information Officer of the Government of Canada
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