FIP Identifiers
Government of Canada Identifiers
One of the primary purposes of the Common Look and Feel (CLF) initiative is
to help Canadians quickly identify on-line information about the programs and
services offered by the Government of Canada (GoC). As in print or other media,
it is important that the Federal Identify Program policy and standards be
consistently applied to communication via electronic media. In particular, CLF
aims to ensure that information posted on government Web sites or conveyed
through E-mail exchanges clearly identifies the program and/or person as a
reliable source of current and credible information.
The Federal Identity Program provides background information on the
use of the Government of Canada identifiers for electronic media.
Whether on the Welcome page or on site content pages, standard placement of
these identifiers also enhances visual recognition of government Web sites. To
assist site developers, specific layout information, including pixel
measurements, can be found under Page Layout in the
Information Design section.
As primary identifiers of information that is current and credible, it is
critical that all identifiers be fully compliant with CLF accessibility standards.
Note: Under no circumstances should either a FIP Signature or the
"Canada" wordmark be used as a graphic hyperlink.
The Government of Canada uses three symbols to identify its institutions, programs
and services: the Coat of Arms, the flag symbol and the "Canada" wordmark.
More detailed information on the application of these symbols is available in the
Federal Identity Program
manual.
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The Coat of Arms is used to identify ministers and their offices,
parliamentary secretaries institutions whose heads report directly to
Parliament, as well as institutions with quasi-judicial functions. When
applied in the context of FIP, the Coat of Arms is always used with a
bilingual title.
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The flag symbol is used to identify all departments, agencies,
corporations, commissions, boards, councils, and other federal bodies and
activities, unless they are authorized to be identified by the Coat of
Arms. When applied in the context of FIP, the symbol is always used with a
bilingual title.
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The "Canada" wordmark is the brand identifier of the Government
of Canada and is used in association with the appropriate FIP signature |
Institutional FIP signatures are an important element of identifying Web
sites and other forms of electronic communications - particularly electronic
mail (E-mail) from GoC employees. In addition to enhancing presence and
visibility of the Government of Canada, FIP signatures help assure users that
the information they receive is from a credible source.
In accordance with Common Look and Feel policy, every page of every
government Web site or sub-site must clearly identify the institution
responsible for content development and site maintenance through the application
of the FIP signature and the "Canada" wordmark. Similarly,
correspondence sent via E-mail should clearly identify the institution and/or
the employee as being representatives of the government.
Within each institution, at least one individual has been given the task of
acting as the FIP Coordinator. This individual can answer specific questions
about the application of institutional signatures and the "Canada"
wordmark.
Other Considerations
Due to the constraints of the display area on computer monitors, service
titles or program identification should not be displayed as part of the FIP
signature. Sites that contain information about a particular program or service
should display this information in the left column. Consistent with FIP Policy
for other applications, when more than one Government of Canada institution
requires requires identification, the Government of Canada signature should be
used at the top of the page and the partners listed elsewhere (usually in the
left column), as illustrated below.
The FIP signature and the "Canada" wordmark are set as a single
600-pixel graphic, as shown below at 75 per cent actual size.
Detailed information on correct placement can be obtained under
Layout in the Information Design section.
FIP Signatures
Detailed information can be obtained under Electronic
Mail Standards in the Information Design section.
FIP Signatures
See also Standard 4.3 on E-mail.
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