Policy Implementation Notice 2024-01: Colour requirements for Government of Canada project signs
1. Date of issue
This Policy Implementation Notice was issued on May 1, 2024.
2. Application
This Policy Implementation Notice applies to departments and other portions of the federal public administration as set out in Schedules I, I.1 and II of the Financial Administration Act, unless excluded by specific acts, regulations or orders in council.
3. Purpose
This notice is intended to provide guidance to departments in an effort to align Government of Canada project signs with the definition of non-partisan communications in the Policy on Communications and Federal Identity.
4. Context
Project signs provide on-site information about Government of Canada programs and projects. They are intended for temporary use at a location, generally for a period of up to 2 years.
Project signs include a clear and concise message that informs the public about the nature of the program or project. The message is not intended to be promotional in nature and should not include information about a contractor or consultant.
The Federal Identity Program Manual outlines design, procurement, fabrication and placement requirements as well as messaging for federal project signs. Volume 4.4 of the manual states that select colours can be used for the bands at the top and bottom of the project signs. These colour options include blue, red, green, or yellow-orange.
The policy, released in 2016, includes a definition for non-partisan communications. In the context of all Government of Canada communications products and activities, non-partisan means:
- objective, factual and explanatory
- free from political party slogans, images, identifiers; bias; designation; or affiliation
- the primary colour associated with the governing party is not used in a dominant way, unless an item is commonly depicted in that colour
- advertising is devoid of any name, voice or image of a minister, member of Parliament or senator
The manual is in the process of being updated in stages and will eventually be replaced by the Design Standard for the Federal Identity Program. During the transition, some sections of the manual remain in effect.
5. Direction
The Directive on the Management of Communications includes a definition of communications product. While project signs are not considered communication products, the colour band options for project signs may conflict with the non-partisan requirement regarding the primary colour associated with the governing party not being used in a dominant way, unless an item is commonly depicted in that colour.
To avoid this conflict, it is recommended that departments apply the non-partisan requirements to project signs. With the possibility of project signs being used for up to 2 years, it is recommended that departments avoid the use of colour bands and adopt a black and white colour scheme to avoid risk of conflicting with non-partisan colour requirements. These considerations should also be given to project signs produced jointly with another level of government.
6. Related policy instruments
7. Enquiries
Employees of federal departments may contact their departmental Federal Identity Program (FIP) coordinator for information.
FIP coordinators may contact the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s Communications and Federal Identity Policy Centre for information about this Policy Implementation Notice.
Members of the public may contact Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat Public Enquiries for information.
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