The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat is currently reviewing the Standard on Optimizing Websites and Applications for Mobile Devices to realign the dates within the standard to the timelines of the Web Renewal Initiative.
Common Services Policy: Rescinded May 13, 2021 with the exception of subsection 6.5.3, Guard Services, in Appendix E: Mandatory Services which will remain in effect until March 31, 2023. On April 1, 2023, the Common Services policy will be rescinded in its entirety and archived.
This standard takes effect April 1, 2013 except for section 6 which takes effect according to the roll-out schedule provided in Appendix G.
2.1 This standard applies to "departments" as defined in section 2 of the Financial Administration Act, with the exception of paragraphs (b) and (c), and unless excluded by specific acts, regulations or Orders-in-Council.
2.2 Section 6.1 applies to all websites, Web applications and device-based mobile applications that:
2.3 Section 6.1 does not apply to the following:
2.4 Sections 6.2 and 6.3 apply to all device-based mobile applications that:
2.5 Sections 6.2 and 6.3 do not apply to the following:
2.6 Sections 7.2 and 8.2, which relate to the role of the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat in monitoring compliance and directing consequences for non-compliance do not apply with respect to the Office of the Auditor General, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, the Office of the Information Commissioner, the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying, the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages and the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner. The deputy heads of these organizations are solely responsible for monitoring and ensuring compliance with the standard within their organizations, as well as for responding to cases of non-compliance in accordance with any Treasury Board instruments providing principles and guidance on the management of compliance.
3.1 Canadians are increasingly using mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, to access Government of Canada information and services. To keep pace with this demand and to better serve Canadians, the Government of Canada is focused on optimizing its online information and services for mobile devices.
3.2 Canadians access Government of Canada information and services from their mobile devices through websites, Web applications and device-based mobile applications.
3.3 Websites and Web applications are the Government of Canada’s primary means of delivering information and services online. This standard is designed to ensure that websites and Web applications are optimized for mobile devices to ensure that information and services reach the widest possible audience. Device-based mobile applications are provided only where user or business needs for device-specific features cannot be supported through websites or Web applications that are optimized for mobile devices.
3.4 This standard introduces an efficient model for building and maintaining device-based mobile applications by reducing duplication through re-use of components, standardization of processes and collaboration on common solutions. This model consists of the following:
3.5 The layout and design prescribed in the Technical specifications for the Web and Mobile Presence help users recognize Government of Canada information and services.
3.6 This standard supports the Policy on Management of Information Technology.
3.7 This standard is issued under the authority of section 7 of the Financial Administration Act by the Secretary of the Treasury Board pursuant to subsection 6(4) of the Financial Administration Act and section 3.5 of the Policy on Management of Information Technology.
3.8 This standard is to be read in conjunction with the Standard on Web Accessibility, the Standard on Web Usability and the Standard on Web Interoperability.
4.1 Definitions to be used in the interpretation of this standard appear in Appendix A.
5.1.1 Government of Canada online information and services reach the widest possible audience.
5.1.2 Government of Canada websites, Web applications and device-based mobile applications achieve a high level of accessibility and usability.
5.1.3 Government of Canada device-based mobile applications are easy to find and recognize.
5.2.1 Government of Canada online information and services are optimized for mobile devices.
5.2.2 Government of Canada provides device-based mobile applications only where user and business needs cannot be met by websites or Web applications optimized for mobile devices.
5.2.3 Government of Canada websites, Web applications and device-based mobile applications respect internationally accepted guidelines for accessibility and respect usability principles and approaches.
5.2.4 Government of Canada device-based mobile applications are published through the department that has been mandated as the Government of Canada publishing entity.
In addition to the requirements contained in this section, websites and Web applications must comply with the Standard on Web Accessibility, the Standard on Web Usability and the Standard on Web Interoperability.
6.1.1.1.1 Ensuring that websites and Web applications are optimized for mobile devices according to the requirements described in the Technical Specifications for the Web and Mobile Presence.
6.1.1.1.2 Ensuring that websites and Web applications meet the requirements described in the Technical Specifications for the Web and Mobile Presence.
6.1.1.2.1 Ensuring that device-based mobile applications are not the sole means of providing information or service. Device-based mobile applications must be provided only to enhance information and services available through Government of Canada websites and Web applications.
6.1.1.2.2 Ensuring that device-based mobile application projects meet the project requirements described in Appendix B.
6.1.1.2.3 Ensuring that device-based mobile applications meet the accessibility requirements described in Appendix C.
6.1.1.2.4 Ensuring that device-based mobile applications meet the usability requirements described in Appendix D.
6.1.1.2.5 Ensuring that device-based mobile applications meet the interoperability requirements described in Appendix E.
6.1.1.2.6 Ensuring that the publication of device-based mobile applications meets the publishing requirements described in Appendix F.
6.1.1.2.7 Ensuring that device-based mobile applications meet the requirements described in the Technical Specifications for the Web and Mobile Presence.
6.1.2.1 Approving device-based mobile application projects before they are commissioned or funded, based on the project requirements described in Appendix B.
6.1.2.2 Providing relevant information about each approved device-based mobile application project to the department that has been mandated as the Government of Canada publishing entity, including the title, a brief description, the anticipated testing and publishing dates as well as any other required information.
6.1.2.3 Approving publication of each device-based mobile application.
6.1.2.4 Outsourcing the publication and retirement of device-based mobile applications to the Government of Canada publishing entity.
6.1.2.5 Providing written approval for publication to the department mandated as the Government of Canada publishing entity. Written approval must include confirmation of the following:
6.1.2.6 Ensuring that for device-based mobile applications:
6.1.2.7 Outsourcing the design, development and maintenance of device-based mobile applications to the departments identified as Government of Canada Centres of Expertise on Mobile or external service providers, with the exception of device-based mobile applications with secure logins.
6.1.2.8 Encouraging departmental managers, functional specialists, and equivalents responsible for websites, Web applications and device-based mobile applications to collaborate, share expertise, and build reusable components and tools, both departmentally and interdepartmentally.
6.1.3.1 Ensuring that software and systems acquired or developed by the department can enable websites, Web applications and device-based mobile applications to meet the requirements of this standard.
6.1.3.2 Encouraging personnel to collaborate, share expertise and build reusable components and tools, both departmentally and interdepartmentally.
6.1.3.3 Provide support and guidance to the senior departmental official regarding implementation of this standard.
6.1.4.1 Ensuring that goals, content owners and target audiences are identified for each of the department’s device-based mobile applications.
6.1.4.2 Encouraging personnel to collaborate, share expertise and build reusable components and tools, both departmentally and interdepartmentally.
6.1.5.1 Serving as the primary point of contact between Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat's Chief Information Officer Branch and their department for questions and communications related to interpretation and implementation of this standard and related guidelines and tools.
6.1.5.2 Participating in and contributing to the interdepartmental Centres of Expertise forum, chaired by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat's Chief Information Officer Branch, to stay current with evolving Web and mobile standards, guidelines and tools.
6.2.1.1 Facilitating design, development, testing and maintenance of device-based mobile applications on behalf of departments.
6.2.1.2 Collaborating, sharing expertise, and building reusable components and tools interdepartmentally.
6.2.1.3 Developing and providing to departments a Service Agreement for the responsibilities identified in this section.
6.3.1.1 Managing the process for publishing and retiring Government of Canada device-based mobile applications through the centralized Government of Canada account for the main corporate store of each supported mobile operating system, including entering into applicable legal agreements.
6.3.1.2 Independent testing of Government of Canada device-based mobile applications.
6.3.1.3 Maintaining an inventory of active device-based mobile application projects approved by senior departmental officials, including the title, brief description and anticipated testing and publishing dates.
6.3.1.4 Maintaining an inventory of published Government of Canada device-based mobile applications, including confirmations of compliance with this standard, compliance with applicable legal agreements, and the information required to publish to the main corporate store of each supported mobile operating system.
6.3.1.5 Publishing the inventory of active device-based mobile application projects on the Government of Canada Publiservice site.
6.3.1.6 Publishing on the Government of Canada website a list of links to public facing Government of Canada:
6.3.1.7 Publishing on the Government of Canada website a list of mobile operating systems that can be supported at a maximum as per Appendix B requirement 1.
6.3.1.8 Reviewing and communicating, in consultation with legal services, any updates to applicable legal agreements for each supported mobile operating system and the associated main corporate stores.
6.3.1.9 Being the conduit for addressing issues or questions between departments and the main corporate store for each supported mobile operating system.
6.3.1.10 Providing departments with or facilitating access to analytics regarding their device-based mobile applications, based on data from the main corporate store of each supported mobile operating system.
6.3.1.11 Collaborating, sharing expertise, and building reusable components and tools interdepartmentally.
6.3.1.12 Developing and providing to departments a Service Agreement for the responsibilities identified in this section.
7.1 The senior departmental official, designated by the deputy head, is responsible for supporting his or her deputy head by overseeing the implementation and monitoring of this standard in his or her department, bringing to the deputy head's attention any significant difficulties, gaps in performance or compliance issues and developing proposals to address them, and reporting significant performance or compliance issues to the Chief Information Officer Branch of Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.
7.2 The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat will monitor compliance with this standard in a variety of ways, including but not limited to, the following:
7.3 The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat will review this standard and its effectiveness at the five-year mark from the effective date of the standard (or earlier if warranted).
8.1 In instances of non-compliance, deputy heads are responsible for taking corrective measures, within their organization with those responsible for implementing the requirements of this standard.
8.2 Consequences of non-compliance with this standard can include any measure allowed by the Financial Administration Act that the Treasury Board would determine as appropriate and acceptable in the circumstances.
8.3 Senior departmental officials are to ensure that corrective actions are taken to address instances of non-compliance with the requirements of this standard. Corrective actions can include requiring additional training, changes to procedures and systems, disciplinary action, and other measures as appropriate.
8.4 For a range of consequences of non-compliance, refer to Appendix C and Appendix D of the Framework for the Management of Compliance.
9.1.1 Developing standards, guidelines, and tools, and providing interpretive advice and guidance on these instruments.
9.1.2 Communicating, engaging and supporting the government-wide Web and mobile communities, including the Chief Information Officer Council and other committees and working groups, on the plans, progress, risks and challenges associated with implementing this standard and its supporting instruments in the federal government.
9.1.3 Identifying the departments that will serve as the Government of Canada Centres of Expertise on Mobile.
9.1.4 Amending the Technical Specifications for the Web and Mobile Presence as required, in consultation with Strategic Communications and Ministerial Affairs.
9.2.1 Commissioning, funding, defining requirements, and developing and maintaining content for device-based mobile applications.
Please direct enquiries about this standard to your departmental Centre of Expertise. For interpretation of this standard, departmental Centres of Expertise should contact:
Digital Policy
Office of the Chief Information Officer
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
Ottawa ON K1A 0R5
E-mail: DPPN@tbs-sct.gc.ca
A Web page that is:
An archived Web page may be provided on the Web, but must be clearly identified as being archived.
An application that is installed locally on a mobile device and developed either entirely with the operating system software development kit (SDK) or in combination with Web technologies. Application components developed with Web technologies can be installed with the device-based mobile application or hosted on a remote server.
Online store provided by the owner of a mobile operating system.
A portable wireless electronic device that enables the user to send and receive information. Examples of mobile devices are smartphones and tablets.
A collection of software that manages the hardware and software resources of a mobile device. Examples of mobile operating systems are Android, iOS, BlackBerry OS and Windows Phone.
Series of user actions where each action is required in order to complete an activity.
For further information and examples please consult the definition for "process" in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, Appendix A.
Organized collections of hardware, software, supplies, policies, procedures and people, to capture, transmit, store, retrieve, manipulate, or display information resources in support of an organization’s day-to-day operations.
A non-embedded resource obtained from a single Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) using HTTP plus any other resources that are used in the rendering or intended to be rendered together with it by a user agent.
Note 1: Although any "other resources" would be rendered together with the primary resource, they would not necessarily be rendered simultaneously with each other.
Note 2: For the purposes of conformance with these guidelines, a resource must be "non-embedded" within the scope of conformance to be considered a Web page.
For further information and examples, please consult the definition for "Web page" in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, Appendix A.
Websites and Web applications are the Government of Canada’s primary means of delivering information and services online. Device-based mobile applications must only be provided to enhance information and services available through Government of Canada websites and Web applications. This appendix prescribes requirements for device-based mobile application projects, including a process for determining whether there is sufficient justification for each project.
Managers, functional specialists, and equivalents are responsible for ensuring the following for device-based mobile application projects:
This section provides a process for determining whether there is sufficient justification for a device-based mobile application project. A graphical depiction is provided in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Graphical Depiction of the Project Justification Process
Providing information and services through mobile devices is an important part of the Government of Canada's commitment to multi-channel access and service delivery. The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that a high level of accessibility is applied uniformly across device-based mobile applications.
Mobile technologies and standards are constantly evolving and accessibility plays a major role in making Government of Canada service delivery more effective and inclusive. To meet the Government of Canada commitment to accessibility, the Government of Canada has adopted WCAG 2.0 for device-based mobile applications. WCAG 2.0 states: "Following these guidelines will make content accessible to a wider range of people with disabilities, including blindness and low vision, deafness and hearing loss, learning disabilities, cognitive limitations, limited movement, speech disabilities, photosensitivity and combinations of these. Following these guidelines will also often make your Web content more usable to users in general."
Managers, functional specialists, and equivalents responsible for device-based mobile applications are responsible for:
The following exclusions from specific requirements have been put in place for a period of time and will be updated annually as technology advances. Exclusions include:
Content | Requirements |
---|---|
Complex maps (text alternatives) | WCAG 2.0 Success Criterion 1.1.1 Non-text content |
Live video captions (closed captions) | WCAG 2.0 Success Criterion 1.2.4 Captions (live) |
Audio description (pre-recorded video) except where the video provides information related to the health and safety of Canadians | WCAG 2.0 Success Criterion 1.2.5 Audio description |
Exclusions for a 10 business day grace period:
Live video captions exclusions refer to closed captioning and transcription of live video.
Audio description (pre-recorded videos) is required only for videos that relate to the health and safety of Canadians; for other pre-recorded videos, audio description is not required.
Complex maps: A map that associates information with one or more locations that cannot be represented by postal addresses or proper names such as intersections, landmarks, cities, or regions. An example of a complex map is one that shows the location and intensity of precipitation detected by a radar network.
Two clarifications:
This appendix prescribes the mandatory elements that apply to device-based mobile applications. Common layout and design across device-based mobile applications, where appropriate, results in an appropriate degree of consistency. This consistency helps users anticipate how to interact with these services while giving departments the flexibility to use evolving technologies and to develop device-based mobile applications for their target audiences, information, and services.
For the purposes of this standard, usability is defined as the extent to which specified users can find, understand and utilize information and services through device-based mobile applications. Usability can be measured through the effectiveness and efficiency with which users can complete defined tasks through device-based mobile applications, i.e.:
The following elements are mandatory for each device-based mobile application:
The layout and design for Government of Canada device-based mobile applications are described in the Technical specifications for Web and mobile presence.
The following requirements ensure that departments provide notices on their websites and Web applications that inform users about their rights, responsibilities and legal obligations, as well as those of the department providing the device-based mobile application.
Sample notices, referred in this appendix, are provided in the Web Standards for the Government of Canada section of the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat website.
The Privacy Notice assures users that information automatically acquired through the use of any Government of Canada device-based mobile application will not be used other than for the express purposes of maintenance, analytics and security.
One of the differences between electronic communications and paper-based communications is that it may not be obvious to the individuals involved whether personal information is being collected. The Privacy Notice must provide enough detail to allow users to understand what and how information is collected as well as when and how it will be protected in order to make an informed decision concerning whether to use the information or service.
Privacy notices must meet the requirements in the Directive on Privacy Practicesand the Standard on Privacy and Web Analytics.
Departments can use the sample Privacy Notice or modify it to meet their needs.
The Third-Party Server Notice informs users that certain files (such as open source libraries, images and scripts) may be delivered automatically to the user’s mobile device via a trusted third-party server or content delivery network in order to improve performance.
Departments can use the sample Third-Party Server Notice or modify it to meet their needs.
The Official Languages Notice informs users of their official languages rights when receiving services from or communicating with the Government of Canada.
The Official Languages Notice is provided for departments to use on their device-based mobile applications.
The Hyperlinking Notice informs users that links to websites and Web applications not under the control of Government of Canada, including social media platforms, are provided solely for the convenience of users. The Hyperlinking Notice must also inform users that the Government of Canada does not guarantee the accuracy, currency or reliability of content, and that the content is not subject to official languages, privacy and accessibility requirements of the Government of Canada.
Hyperlinks to websites and Web applications not under the control of the Government of Canada, including those that incorporate social media icons, do not express or imply endorsement of these products or services.
Departments can use the sample Hyperlinking Notice or modify it to meet their needs.
The Copyright Notice informs users of content ownership and the conditions associated with reproduction of materials provided through Government of Canada device-based mobile applications.
The Copyright Notice is provided for departments to use on their device-based mobile applications.
The Trademark Notice informs users that the official symbols of the Government of Canada, including the Canada Wordmark and corporate signatures incorporating the flag symbol or the Arms of Canada, cannot be reproduced for commercial or non-commercial purposes without prior written authorization.
The Trademark Notice is provided for departments to use on their device-based mobile applications.
The Accessibility Notice informs users that all efforts have been made to achieve a high level of accessibility. It also states that alternative formats can be obtained by contacting the department that provided the information or service.
The Accessibility Notice is provided for departments to use on their device-based mobile applications.
This Social Media Notice informs users of their rights and obligations when interacting with the Government of Canada via social media, as well as what they should expect from Government of Canada social media accounts.
This Social Media Notice includes the following:
Departments can use the sample Social Media Notice or modify it to meet their needs.
The following requirements ensure that departments provide context-sensitive notices that inform users about their rights, responsibilities and legal obligations, as well as those of the department providing the information or service. The following notices are available to users within the context described below.
Sample notices, referred in this appendix, are provided in the Web Standards for the Government of Canada section of the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat website.
A Personal Information Collection Statement informs users that personally identifiable information will be collected. This notice, or a link to this notice, must be prominently provided where users are requested to enter personal information. Where technology permits, users are provided with the information on how to opt-out of using functionality in which additional personal information may be collected, for example, when accessing geo-location services.
The Personal Information Collection Statement must comply with sections 6.2.9 and 6.2.10 of the Directive on Privacy Practices and sections 6.1.1 and 6.1.2 of the Directive on Social Insurance Number.
Departments can use the sample Personal Information Collection Statement or modify it to meet their needs.
A third-party information liability disclaimer, or a link to the disclaimer, is placed within each screen that includes third-party information and immediately before the third-party content that is hosted on the device-based mobile application. The disclaimer informs users that the information is not under the control of the Government of Canada and is provided solely for the convenience of users. The disclaimer must also inform users that the department does not guarantee the accuracy, currency, or reliability of content, and that the content is not subject to official languages, privacy and accessibility requirements.
Departments can use the sample third-party information liability disclaimer or modify it to meet their needs.
In exceptional circumstances in which the department believes that application of the Crown copyright symbol is necessary to protect specific material on its device-based mobile application, one of the following formats is used:
Where a link is provided to a Web page that is not available in the language of the current screen, a Language Notice informs users of the language of the Web page that is being linked.
For example:
Where third-party icons are displayed to facilitate the sharing of content via social media, a disclaimer is provided indicating that no endorsement is implied or expressed.
The following requirements ensure that users can find, understand and utilize the information and services provided through device-based mobile applications with effectiveness and efficiency.
Managers, functional specialists, content owners and equivalents are responsible for ensuring that, for device-based mobile applications:
Providing information and services through mobile devices is an important part of the Government of Canada's commitment to multi-channel access and service delivery. As Canadians are becoming increasingly reliant upon mobile devices and data-centric technologies, the Government of Canada is committed to ensuring the reuse and the portability of information and services across applications, platforms and devices.
For the purposes of this standard, interoperability is defined as the ability of different types of platforms, devices, networks and applications to work together effectively, without prior communication, to find, retrieve, exchange and re-use content in a useful and meaningful manner.
Managers, functional specialists, and equivalents responsible for device-based mobile applications are responsible for:
Government of Canada departments offer a wide variety of informational and transactional services for individuals and businesses through multiple channels. In the case of device-based mobile applications, they are offered through the main corporate store of each supported mobile operating system. Publishing device-based mobile applications together makes it easier for users to both find and recognize Government of Canada device-based mobile applications in these main corporate stores. In addition, it will help reduce departmental costs for publishing the device-based mobile applications.
The department mandated as the Government of Canada publishing entity is responsible for publishing all device-based mobile applications on behalf of each department, while each department is accountable for its own mobile applications.
Managers, functional specialists and equivalents responsible for device-based mobile applications are responsible for:
The requirements for the Standard on Optimizing Websites and Applications for Mobile Devices come into effect beginning on April 1, 2013, and ending on April 1, 2016. The roll-out schedule is as follows: