Stationery

1. Technical specifications

All Government of Canada stationery must comply with Federal Identity Program Policy requirements and be identified with a signature and the Canada Wordmark. Mandatory standards govern the design and production of stationery including layout, colour and material. The requirements for stationery are found in the following technical specifications:

• Departments identified by the flag symbol signature: T-210 to T-233
  • Letterhead
  • Envelopes: Letter, Kraft, Letter, White, Large Kraft, Large White, Small White
  • Business Cards: Common, Single-Sided, Continuous, Folded
• Departments identified by the Arms of Canada signature: T-240 to T-263
  • Letterhead
  • Envelopes: Letter, Kraft, Letter, White, Large Kraft, Large White, Small White
  • Business Cards: Common, Single-Sided, Continuous, Folded
• Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries and their offices: T-270 to T-292
  • Letterhead
  • Envelopes: Letter, White, Large White, Small White
  • Business Cards: Common, Single-Sided, Continuous

2. Responsibility

Deputy heads are accountable for implementing Treasury Board policies within their department. Heads of communications are responsible for ensuring the coordinated use in their department of the official symbols of the Government of Canada in all fields of application and in accordance with mandatory specifications. Effective management of stationery products includes quality control, and effective ordering and distribution processes.

3. Official symbols

Only the official symbols of the Government of Canada are used for stationery products. Departments that do not have an approved applied title use the Government of Canada signature until the required approvals have been received.

4. Other marks, symbols or graphic elements

No graphic elements, identifiers or marks are permitted on stationery products without the approval of Treasury Board ministers. This includes symbols that pertain to paper content, certification, production or procurement standards.

Lines, rules, watermarks, form numbers or alternate positions for a return mailing address are prohibited on stationery products.

5. Official languages

The requirements for the order of official languages are detailed in T-125 - Official Languages in Signatures. Ministers may choose the order of language precedence for their stationery.

6. Government of Canada letterhead

The use of letterhead identified by the Government of Canada signature and the Canada Wordmark is permitted for all departments or purposes.

7. Stationery for joint initiatives with external parties

Stationery created for joint initiatives identifies all participants equally, including the Government of Canada. Letterhead involving external organizations or private sector interests is subject to requirements. Government of Canada symbols are not used on business cards related to joint initiatives. For partnering with external organizations see T-505 - Official Symbols in Partnering Activities.

8. Identifying offices and titles of office on letterhead

For stationery of ministers and their offices, the title of office appears in both official languages on either side of the Arms of Canada.

The offices or titles of deputy ministers, assistant deputy ministers or positions of equivalent status may be identified on letterhead under the departmental signature. Signatures may incorporate the title of official but not the person's name.

9. Printing stationery

Official Government of Canada stationery may only be produced through printing processes identified in the technical specifications T-210 to T-292. Laser and digital printing are not used to produce official stationery products.