Signage

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Legislative Requirements

The Preamble and Part VI of the Official Languages Act clearly states the Government of Canada's commitment to ensuring the full and equitable participation of members of the two official language communities in federal institutions. It is based on a fundamental characteristic of the Canadian federal public administration, namely, one in which English-speaking and French-speaking Canadians work together.

The Treasury Board's Administrative Policy Manual contains the Federal Identity Program (FIP) policies that pertain to signage for the federal government facilities. Standards for effective signage for the blind and visually impaired are described in the Canadian Standards Association Standard B651 and Chapter 6 of Treasury Board's Real Property Manual.

Relevant Policies

The ARCHIVED—Treasury Board Federal Identity Program Policy is the Government of Canada's corporate identity program. It helps project the government as a coherent, unified administration and enables Canadians to recognize at a glance their government at work for them. It facilitates finding government programs and services through clear and consistent identification. FIP covers the Canada word mark, departmental signatures, government uniforms, lettering on cars and building signs (directory boards, direction signs, name plates, regulatory, warning and information signs).

The FIP policy, in concert with the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, helps shape the "face" and the "voice" of government.

The Treasury Board Federal Identity Program Policy states that federal institutions, programs, services and contributions shall be identified in accordance with corporate identity standards for the Government of Canada. The equality of status of the two official languages shall be projected when applying these corporate identity standards.

The Public Services and Procurement Canada Corporate Identity Policy (Disclaimer: This information is only accessible to federal government employees) delineates the roles, responsibilities and guidelines for the implementation and application of the PSPC corporate identity. This policy supersedes Chapter 470, Federal Identity Program, of the Administrative policy manual.

The policy states that Public Services and Procurement Canada will:

This departmental policy applies to all employees of PSPC and to all communications products as outlined in ARCHIVED—Annex A: Public Services and Procurement Canada Corporate Identity Policy (Disclaimer: This information is only accessible to federal government employees). The Translation Bureau, Consulting and Audit Canada and the Canadian General Standards Board can use their established visual identities. However, any use of the PSPC corporate identity by these organizations must be in accordance with the terms of this departmental policy.

The PSPC corporate identity is based upon the elements of the FIP and is made up of the corporate signature, the Canada Wordmark and the departmental identifier.

Application

This policy applies to all institutions named in Schedules  I, II, and III to the Financial Administration Act and all branches designated as departments for purposes of the Act, unless the institution has been specifically exempted from FIP. (See Appendix B, Application schedules, for the institutions subject to FIP policy and those that are exempt. (The appendix also contains exemption criteria.) This policy is based on the following acts and policies pertaining to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Official Languages Act and the Treasury Board Manual: Communications Volume: Chapter 1, Government Communications.

The Federal Identity Program covers some 160 Government of Canada institutions and over 20,000 facilities in all regions of Canada and abroad. It applies to a broad field of applications including stationery, forms, vehicular markings, signage, advertising, published material, electronic communications, audio-visual productions and expositions, personnel identification, awards and plaques, packaging and labelling, and identification of equipment.

Technical Documentation

The Federal Identity Program Manual was published to help PSPC employees, contractors and consultants convey a consistent, professional image of the department through the correct use of graphic elements. Our corporate identity is a powerful communications tool in support of the Federal Identity Program. There are two basic corporate identity approaches: one for internal PSPC audiences (corporate symbol) and one for external audiences (corporate image) comprising the general public and other government departments and agencies.

The Corporate Look and Standard Guides are designed to compliment the Manual by providing easy to find templates, elements, and graphics.

Each PSPC branch and region is responsible for implementing these graphic standards on all their communications products. The Translation Bureau, Consulting and Audit Canada and the Canadian General Standards Board can use their established visual identities.

The Office Design Guide (ODG) is a reference handbook of information prepared for office facility managers in federal government departments. It outlines components that make up the office environment and contains a section on signage. Since its publication, much remains relevant although there have been several significant changes in the field which are not reflected in the ODG document:

Exemptions

Unique programs, services and initiatives offered on behalf of the Government of Canada (GOC), may use the Government of Canada signature and are, therefore, exempted from the PSPC Corporate Identity Program. However, any use of the PSPC Corporate Identity Program by these organizations must be in accordance with this manual. Compliance is mandatory. The Director General of Communications, following consultation with the appropriate Departmental Executive Committee member, will assess each request for exception.

Inquiries

For additional information concerning the usage, placement and application of the corporate identity, please contact tpsgc.sngp-npms.pwgsc@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca.

Associated Documents

Legislation

Official Languages Act

Public Services and Procurement Canada Policies

Treasury Board Policies

Standards

Federal Identity Program Manual

Toolkit

Common Look and Feel for the Internet

Procurement

Standing Offer

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