Policy Implementation Notice 2025-01: Slogans and naming of Government of Canada initiatives
1. Date of issue
This Policy Implementation Notice was issued on .
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 on the naming of a Government of Canada program, policy or initiative that shares a similar or identical name to a commitment made in the governing party’s official platform.
4. Context
The Policy on Communications and Federal Identity requires that all Government of Canada (GC) communications be non-partisan. In the context of GC communications products and activities, non-partisan means:
- objective, factual, and explanatory
- free from political party slogans, images, identifiers, bias, designation or affiliation
- that the primary colour of the governing party is not used in a dominant way, unless an item is commonly depicted in that colour
- that advertising is devoid of any name, voice, or image of a minister, member of Parliament or senator.
5. Interpretation
A slogan is a concise and memorable catchphrase. Under the Policy on Communications and Federal Identity, the use of political slogans in government communications, including advertising, is prohibited. However, this restriction does not apply to slogans that originate from election platform commitments and are later incorporated into the official name of a Government of Canada program, policy or initiative. However, such a name cannot contain any reference to the name of a political party or its leader.
6. Related policy instruments
7. Enquiries
Employees of federal departments may contact their departmental Head of Communications for information.
Members of the public may contact Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat Public Enquiries for information.