Government of Canada
Linguistic Recommendation
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.
Linguistic Recommendation reference number
REC-2/2006-12, rev. 2011-10
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