The Department of Finance of is attempting to demystify much of its work with its new Web site “Simplifier”.

The Simplifier automatically creates links between specialized vocabulary and acronyms that may be used almost anywhere on the Web site, and a definition of the term from the Finance Canada glossary. The links to the bilingual glossary are, for most recent browser versions, distinctively coloured and tagged.

Finance says it created the Simplifier was because much of the Web site’s content is complex and technical, yet the information is important and relevant to all Canadians, whether specialists or not.

Finance staff find they can only go so far in simplifying language, given the specialized issues involved. Some jargon is inevitable if the information is to be exact. The Simplifier provides a way for Finance to explain the jargon.

“A clear challenge facing government,” said Finance minister Paul Martin, “is to use new information and communications technologies to give Canadians a government that is more accountable and transparent. I believe that making the jargon governments use stand up and explain itself to all Canadians is a small but significant step in supporting the right of citizens to know and understand what their government is doing.”