Federal Identity Program
The Federal Identity Program (FIP, French: Programme de coordination de l'image de marque, PCIM) is the Government of Canada's corporate identity program. The purpose of the FIP is to provide to the public a consistent and unified image for federal government projects and activities.[1] Other objectives of the program include facilitating public access to federal programs and services, promoting the equal status of the two official languages, and achieving better management of the federal identity.[2] Managed by the Treasury Board Secretariat, this program, and the government's communication policy, help to shape the public image of the government. In general, logos – or, in the parlance of the policy, visual identifiers – used by government departments other than those specified in the FIP must be approved by the Treasury Board.[3]
Background[edit]
The origin of the Federal Identity Program can be traced back to 1921 when King George V proclaimed the Royal Coat of Arms, making red and white the official colours of Canada. In 1965, Queen Elizabeth II proclaimed the Canadian flag, and the maple leaf became an official symbol of Canada.
In 1969, the Official Languages Act was established to ensure the equality of English and French in all federal jurisdictions. That same year, the Task Force on Government Information found that the Canadian government was conveying a confused image to the populace through a hodge-podge of symbology and typefaces (fonts). In 1970, the FIP was created to standardize a corporate identity for the Canadian government.[2]
One signature variant, with the , is used to identify all departments, agencies, corporations, commissions, boards, councils, and any other federal body and activity. In such signatures, the flag typically appears to the left of a bilingual title (see first image above). When the FIP was first implemented, a similar signature without the band on the flag's 'fly' (right) was used until 1987 (see second image above).
national flag symbol
The other variant, with the , is used to identify ministers and their offices, parliamentary secretaries, institutions whose heads report directly to Parliament, and institutions with quasi-judicial functions. When applied within the context of the FIP, the coat of arms is often flanked on each side by an official's or department's bilingual title. Use of the coat of arms, instead of the flag signature, requires authorization by the appropriate minister with agreement of the President of the Treasury Board.
Coat of Arms of Canada
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
Bank of Canada
Canada Council
Canada Development Investment Corporation
Canada Labour Relations Board
Canada Lands Company Limited
(Le Vieux-Port de Montréal) Limited
Canada Lands Company
Canada Lands Company (Vieux-Port de Québec) Inc.
Canada Lands Company (Mirabel) Limited
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Canada Ports Corporation
Canada Post Corporation
Canadian Armed Forces
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Centre for Management Development
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
Canadian Commercial Corporation
Canadian General Standards Board
Canadian Human Rights Commission
Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat
(privatized in 1995)
Canadian National Railway Company
Canadian Patents and Development Limited
Canadian Saltfish Corporation
(privatized in 2015)
Canadian Wheat Board
CORCAN (industrial work program of )
Correctional Service Canada
Economic Council of Canada
Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation
Export Development Corporation
Federal Business Development Bank
Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation
Halifax Port Corporation
Harbourfront Corporation
House of Commons
International Centre for Ocean Development
Judicial branch
Inc.
Marine Atlantic
Montreal Port Corporation
National Arts Centre Corporation
National Capital Commission
National Film Board
National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy
Office of the
Secretary to the Governor General of Canada
(privatized in 1991)
Petro-Canada
Port Metro Vancouver
Port of Quebec Corporation
Prince Rupert Port Corporation
Public Service Staff Relations Board
Royal Canadian Mint
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Saint John Port Corporation
Science Council of Canada
Senate of Canada
Standards Council of Canada
St. John's Port Corporation
St. Lawrence Seaway Authority
Certain federal entities were listed as exempt from FIP in the 1990 FIP Policy:[10]