Other Related Documents

1998 Treasury Board decisions

The Government of Canada has an obligation to make evident to Canadians, wherever they reside, how their taxes are used to provide programs, services and infrastructure. The government must project a consistent and coherent presence and identity to ensure that Canadians recognise at a glance their government at work for them.

The Federal Identity Program (FIP) establishes standards and requirements for managing the government's corporate identity. In 1998, Treasury Board ministers established nine additional FIP requirements aimed at strengthening the presence and visibility of the Government of Canada in all of its activities.

The following is required of all institutions subject to the Federal Identity Program:

Identifying the Government of Canada

1. The Government of Canada's identity is to have primacy over the identity of individual institutions and is not to be overshadowed by unique identifiers and symbols.
2. The use of institutional symbols that do not comply with the Federal Identity Program will require the authorization of the Treasury Board.
3. Government of Canada identity requirements are to be part of collaborative arrangements with the private sector and other governments or jurisdictions to ensure strong presence and visibility for the Government of Canada and its programs and services to Canadians.

Applying the "Canada" wordmark

4. All Canadian Government institutions, including those exempted from the Federal Identity Program, are to apply the "Canada" wordmark prominently on all their corporate identity applications.

Identifying government facilities

5. "Canada" wordmark signs are to be displayed on selected high-profile buildings in regions across the country. This is expanded to include selected buildings and properties for which Public Works and Government Services Canada is not the custodian.
6. The Canadian flag is to be displayed prominently at all federal facilities and services. A consolidated government-wide policy on displaying the flag will be incorporated into the Federal Identity Program.
7. All Government of Canada real estate custodian departments and agencies are to ensure that lease arrangements incorporate Federal Identity Program requirements regarding signage, including "Canada" wordmark signs, and displaying the flag.
   
   Note: A National Standing Offer is in place for the production of signage for the Government of Canada. All institutions are strongly encouraged to use the standing offer to ensure the design, fabrication and installation of all forms of signage conform to the standards and requirements of the Federal Identity Program. Real Property Services of Public Works and Government Services Canada manages the standing offer contract and offers assistance to other departments with custodial responsibilities. Proposals for exterior "Canada" wordmark signs on federal facilities must adhere to the site selection criteria and should be reviewed by the Federal Identity Program.

Communicating electronically

8. The Treasury Board Secretariat will develop, in consultation with departments and agencies, a common look and feel for all federal Internet/Intranet sites and electronic networks. The Federal Identity Program is to be applied consistently to electronic services, including all Government of Canada Internet/Intranet sites, products and deliverables.
   
   Note: Common Look and Feel standards and guidelines are now in place for all Government of Canada Web sites. They are available on the following web site http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/clf-nsi/

Identifying employees

9. Federal uniformed employees are to be clearly identified to the Canadian public with Federal Identity Program identifiers.

Please direct all enquiries concerning Federal Identity Program policy and standards to the head of communications or designated FIP coordinator in your institution.