Government of Canada (Linguistic recommendation from the Translation Bureau)

[The same content is available in French in the article GOUVERNEMENT DU CANADA (RECOMMANDATION LINGUISTIQUE DU BUREAU DE LA TRADUCTION).]

English Guidelines

The word government

Capitalize the word Government in the official title Government of Canada:

• The Government of Canada will introduce new legislation.

Write the word government with a lower-case g in unofficial titles and in the plural:

• Canadian government
• federal government
• provincial government
• The governments of Canada and the United States met to discuss trade issues.

Abbreviation

The abbreviation for Government of Canada is GC. Write the title in full the first time it appears, with the abbreviation in parentheses after it. In later references, you can use the abbreviation alone.

• The Government of Canada (GC) will introduce the new legislation.
• The GC plans to introduce this legislation by September 22.

Note: The official abbreviation is GC. Avoid all other abbreviations, such as GoC, GOC, goc or gc.

French Guidelines

The word gouvernement

The word gouvernement never takes a capital:

• Le gouvernement du Canada présentera la nouvelle loi.
• les rouages du gouvernement du Canada
• le gouvernement fédéral
• le gouvernement provincial
• les gouvernements provinciaux

Abbreviation

The abbreviation for gouvernement du Canada is GC. Write the title in full the first time it appears, with the abbreviation in parentheses after it. In later references, you can use the abbreviation alone.

• Le gouvernement du Canada (GC) présentera la nouvelle loi.
• Le GC compte présenter cette loi avant le 22 septembre.

Note: The official abbreviation is GC. Avoid all other abbreviations, such as GdC, GDC or g. du C.

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