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Common Look and Feel for the InternetCollaborative Arrangements SectionOverviewGoC institutions participating in collaborative arrangements with other levels of government or the private sector face additional challenges in ensuring federal identity, presence and visibility. Web sites are perhaps one of the most contentious applications as space for identification is often limited and the party hosting the Web site maintains creative control of the Web site. As well, the GoC must be sure to avoid making or implying an endorsement of an individual, company, organization or product. Standard 2.1GoC organizations must ensure that Web sites that represent a collaborative arrangement acknowledge their participation by prominently displaying one of the FIP identifiers thereby achieving a visual presence and balance between the government and its partners. RationaleThese issues fall into areas of responsibility of both the Government Communications Policy and the Federal Identity Program. The TB Secretariat's Service and Innovation Sector has created an interdepartmental working group to examine all identity issues relating to collaborative arrangements and develop solutions for promulgation in the renewed Government Communications Policy. InterpretationInstitutions of the Government of Canada may visually represent themselves using one of three following identifiers: The institutional signature, the Government of Canada signature, or the "Canada" wordmark. In collaborative arrangements involving more than one Government of Canada institution, the institutions are to be identified by a single Government of Canada signature or "Canada" wordmark. In collaborative arrangements involving many partners, it is advisable to create a separate page dedicated to identifying the participants in order to avoid a confusing presentation of many symbols and logos throughout a Web site. The decision as to what degree to apply CLF standards to Web sites that involve collaborative arrangements is not straightforward. This is because the GoC is involved in many different types of collaborative arrangements with many different types of partners. Sites with a gc.ca domain name must apply all CLF standards fully. The gc.ca domain is meant to apply to GoC institutional Internet Web sites, though it is not meant to necessarily apply to all possible Web sites with which a GoC institution is involved. A GoC institution's primary site and any related sub-sites would be logically expected to use a gc.ca domain designation. This includes sites that could be described as primarily related to program delivery and / or the provision of corporate information. Collaborative sites with others, such as provincial, territorial or municipal governments, the private sector, etc. should have a different domain designation than gc.ca, such as .ca, .org or .com (e.g. http://www.cbsc.org). On these sites, appropriate CLF standards as they relate to accessibility, collaborative arrangements, cybersquatting, important notices and official languages still apply to the GoC contribution. Note that GoC institutions must display one of the FIP identifiers thereby achieving a visual presence and balance between the government and its partners. One example might be a portal or gateway site. In this circumstance, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) should be used to define how best to identify the partners' and their contributions. Note that it is the responsibility of the appropriate minister to determine whether or not a particular shared-cost program requires federal identity in its publicity. As and when directed by the minister, a federal institution entering into a contract or agreement with other levels of government or private institutions must include provisions in the contract that set out the terms for joint identification of the partners. In other collaborative arrangements, the GoC institution may have a lead responsibility. The institution may have funded the design, development and implementation of the site and may host the site server. Other participants may play a minor or limited role, for example as information sources. For such sites, the gc.ca domain name should be used and the CLF standards should fully apply. 2.1 Best PracticesAn example of collaborative arrangement: http://www.cbsc.org A Treasury Board Secretariat publication entitled Stretching the Tax Dollar - The Federal Government As 'Partner' : Six Steps to Successful Collaboration (October 1995) is an excellent reference for public sector managers who find themselves faced with the challenge of providing Canadians with quality services using alternative service delivery mechanisms. Additional information on collaborative arrangements can be found in the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada. Standard 2.2Because the GoC clearly disallows the creation of unfair competitive advantage in the private sector through the endorsement of private interests, GoC Web sites must not display third-party icons, symbols or logos that represent the products and services of private enterprises or individuals apart from exemptions made within the context of collaborative arrangements and the use of TB approved symbols for government-wide use. RationaleTrade marks, logos, professional certifications, special file formats, and software plug-ins may be important to a specific audience; however, use of associated icons can be perceived to constitute an endorsement. InterpretationThe use of symbols and logos is allowed in collaborative arrangements. The President of the Treasury Board has approved a number of symbols for government-wide use, such as the Millennium Bureau symbol and the Year of the Elderly Person symbol. However, even approved government-wide symbols should be displayed with discretion. Any other symbol intended to be used government-wide is subject to prior approval by the President of the Treasury Board. Any other third-party icons, symbols or logos that represent the products and services of private enterprises or individuals must not be displayed on GoC sites. Providing relevant information discretely in text format, rather than using symbols and logos, reduces the appearance of endorsement. 2.2 Best PracticesHyperlinking to and from GoC Web sites (January 2003) Through the work of the CLF Hyperlinking Working Group, the following best practices were developed to guide departments and agencies with the implementation of the Hyperlinking Notice and to provide a coding example for links to non-GoC sites. The best practices also include criteria for linking and standard replies to requests to be considered before implementing links to and from non-GoC sites. It is recommended that departments and agencies use the following wording for their Hyperlinking Notice that has been vetted by TBS legal counsel for inclusion in their Important Notices statement. With federal Internet sites now established as a viable and effective government communications and outreach medium, and the proliferation of the Web in general throughout Canadian society, there has been a marked increase in the number of requests received by the Government of Canada (GoC) from non-government organizations to establish links from GoC Web sites to non-GoC Web sites and vice versa. As a general rule, it is not necessary to have a linking agreement or to obtain permission when establishing a link to another site. Also, as a general rule, the GoC reserves the right to refuse or to terminate links without notice. These best practices should be applied to all links on Web sites, irrespective of the document format (e.g. HTML, PDF, RTF, etc.):
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