Government Websites and Publications

Government websites and publications can often be a good source for content for an open textbook because it is often distributed under an open license. However, licensing varies, so you should always check before including government content in your work.

Canadian Government Websites

Most Government of Canada websites and publications are covered by an Open Government Licence. Here is an example of acknowledging a source under Statistics Canada’s data licence:

Source: Statistics Canada, name of product, reference date. Reproduced and distributed on an “as is” basis with the permission of Statistics Canada.

However, when using a resource from a Canadian government website or publication, always check the Terms of Use, Copyright or similar page for details. Some Canadian government departments do require you request permission to reuse website materials.

Often, Canadian government websites stipulate that the reused image or resource not be used for commercial purposes. If this is the case, then add this line to your attribution: “This image cannot be used for commercial purposes.”

United States Government Websites

Often the information and images found on United States government websites are in the public domain. However, when using a resource from a U.S. government website, always check the Terms of Use, Copyright or similar page for details.