Message to Heads of Institutions Under the Financial Administration Act, Schedule III

This is to advise you that Treasury Board has approved new Common Look and Feel Standards for the Internet and to encourage your institution to adopt the standards that are mandatory for the Internet sites of Government of Canada institutions listed in Schedules I, I.1 and II of the Financial Administration Act.

The Internet is an increasingly important communication tool providing an effective means for the public and the government to exchange information and for the government to offer its services at the time and place of Canadians' choosing. The consistent and predictable presentation of government services and content offered by Common Look and Feel standards facilitate effective online interaction.

The new Common Look and Feel Standards for the Internet were developed to reflect modern practices on the Web, improve navigation and format elements and align with the priorities of the new government. They comprise a set of four standards with 30 requirements. The standards cover Web addresses, accessibility for persons with disabilities, common Web page formats and email. The most significant changes are a wider format to improve readability, a single consistent common menu bar to enhance usability, and improvements to header and footer elements. A crosswalk table outlining the evolution of the policy requirements is available on the Common Look and Feel Website along with the complete text of all the standards and guidelines.

Treasury Board Secretariat will provide a series of information sessions for the Web community that will promote and increase understanding of the standards. Treasury Board Secretariat will also provide institutions with support in the form of a common template solution, reference material and downloadable tools.

Should you have any questions, please contact Barbara Dundas of the Chief Information Officer Branch at Dundas.Barbara@tbs-sct.gc.ca or by telephone at 613-946-4053.

In closing, I would like to emphasize that by applying the Common Look and Feel Standards, your institution can be confident that it promotes consistent branding and contributes to communications across the government that are well coordinated, effectively managed and responsive to the diverse information needs of Canadians.