Government of Canada’s weather website, formerly branded as from “Environment Canada.”
The words "Environment Canada" have disappeared from the department's popular weather page as part of a government-wide overhaul of federal websites.
A spokesperson for the department said the change was approved as part of a move to bring in a "common look and feel" to all federal government websites.
Previously, visitors to www.weatheroffice.gc.ca saw a Canadian flag and the words Environment Canada in the top left of the site.
The new version simply says "Weather" and Government of Canada in the top left.
The term Environment Canada only appears in a text that is big enough to read after visitors click on an image of a map of Canada for "current conditions."
While the phrase "Environment Canada" no longer appears on the main page, there are three boxes that direct visitors to videos of government advertising, including two related to "Canada's Economic Action Plan" and a third called "Tax Savings Working for you."
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May issued a statement Wednesday condemning the move.
"Canadians simply wanting to check the weather are being bombarded with Conservative propaganda," she said. "Is there no end to Conservative gall when it comes to promoting themselves with taxpayers' money?"
Jirina Vlk, a spokesperson for Environment Canada, said the move is part an overhaul of federal websites led by the Treasury Board. Ms. Vlk said the change does not affect content on the weather site.
According to the Treasury Board website, the goal of the overhaul is to deliver websites that are more accessible, usable and interoperable.