The Federal Identity Program (FIP) 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 access to government programs and services through clear and consistent identification.

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

Fields of application

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.

Policy and standards

The authority of the FIP policy is derived from Section 7 (1)(a) of the Financial Administration Act which permits Treasury Board to act on matters relating to general administrative policy in the public service of Canada. This policy applies to all institutions named in Schedules I, II, and III of the Financial Administration Act and all branches designated as departments for purposes of the Act, unless the institution has been specifically exempted from FIP.

In addition to the FIP policy, nine Treasury Board decisions aimed at strengthening federal presence and visibility are contained in a seperate document. The Federal Identity Program Manual provides comprehensive information for all corporate identity applications technical specifications, design standards, guidance and management practices.

Roles and responsibilities

The application and management of the FIP policy and standards within an institution is the responsibility of the head of communications. All enquiries should be directed to the head of communications or a designated FIP coordinator.

Federal Identity Program provides on-going design advice and policy interpretation to these designated officials.

Official symbols of the Government of Canada

Official symbols of the Government of Canada are protected against unauthorized use in Canada under Section 9(1)(n) of Canada's Trade-Marks Act, and protected internationally under article 6ter of the Paris Convention.

Presently, the Knowledge Exchange Service of Public Works and Government Services Canada is the distributer of these symbols. Approved electronic copies of the "Canada" wordmark, Coat of Arms, and Government of Canada corporate signature may be obtained by calling 819-956-0790. If you have access to government's publiservice web site, you may register and download the symbols at the following the address: http://knowledgexchange.pwgsc.gc.ca/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.home&lang=e.

	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.
	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.
	The "Canada" wordmark is the global identifier of the Government of Canada and is used in association with the appropriate FIP signature.