Notes on Canadian Legislation

John N. Davis, Law Librarian and Associate Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School of York University
Prepared for the January 2005 conference of the American Association of Law Schools

Last updated: January 4, 2005

General Comments

  1. This document is available (temporarily) as a web page at:
    http://www.yorku.ca/jdavis/20050108_aals_statutes.html
  2. Most current Canadian legislation (federal, provincial and territorial) is searchable through a common interface, for free, on the CANLII (Canadian Legal Information Institute) website. CANLII is an initiative of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada.
    http://www.canlii.org/
  3. Canadian legislation files and databases available on Westlaw and LexisNexis are noted below. Quicklaw and Canada Law Book databases have not been noted, on the assumption that there would be relatively few subscribers in the U.S.A. Quicklaw became part of Reed-Elsevier in the summer of 2003, and is gradually being integrated into LexisNexis. Canadian legislation on selected topics is available on CCH Online, but has also not been noted below.
  4. Good subject access to Canadian legislation is provided by the Canadian Encyclopedic Digest.
    Westlaw database: CED
  5. The legislation of Canada, Quebec, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut is constitutionally required to be enacted in both English and French. Ontario also publishes its laws in both English and French.
  6. Canadian provinces are autonomous within their constitutional spheres. The powers of Parliament are set out in section 91 of the Constitution Act, 1867 (below); the powers of the provincial legislatures are set out in section 92. The territories (Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut) are creatures of the Canadian Parliament.
  7. Attempts to harmonize Canadian provincial and territorial legislation are made under the auspices of the Uniform Law Conference of Canada.
    http://www.chlc.ca/
  8. Citations of statutes are to the chapters of annual statute volumes, and to the chapters of revised statute volumes.
    Royal Assent Act, S.C. 2002, c. 15; i.e. Statutes of Canada, 2002, chapter 15
    http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/R-8.6/text.html
    Royal Style and Titles Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. R-12; i.e. Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, chapter R-12
    http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/R-12/text.html
    Executive Council Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.25; i.e. Revised Statutes of Ontario, 1990, chapter E.25
    http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/DBLaws/Statutes/English/90e25_e.htm
    Executive Council Amendment Act, 2004, S.O. 2004, c. 25; i.e. Statutes of Ontario, 2004, chapter 25
    http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/DBLaws/Source/Statutes/English/2004/S04025_e.htm
  9. Regulations are made other than by Parliament or a legislature, normally under delegated powers, and are effective when filed with a central registrar of regulations. They are published in the Canada Gazette or a provincial gazette, and are cited by filing number, or by a consolidated (or revised) regulation number.
    Rules of the Supreme Court of Canada, SOR/2002-156; i.e. Statutory Instruments (Regulations), Number 156 of 2002
    http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/S-26/SOR-2002-156/
    Railway Abandonment Regulations, C.R.C. 1978, c. 1382; i.e. Consolidated Regulations of Canada, 1978, chapter 1382
    http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/C-10.4/C.R.C.-c.1382/text.html
    Reproduction of Federal Law Order, SI/97-5; i.e. Statutory Instruments and Other Documents (Other than Regulations), Number 5 of 1997
    http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/otherreg/SI-97-5/text.html
    Contingency Fee Agreements, O.Reg. 195/04; i.e. Ontario Regulation 195 of 2004
    http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/DBLaws/Regs/English/040195_e.htm
    Rules of Civil Procedure, R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 194; i.e. Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990, Regulation 194
    http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/DBLaws/Regs/English/900194a_e.htm
  10. It is often provided that a statute will come into force by proclamation, or on a date to be fixed by order in council. Such proclamations and orders in council are cited by regulation number, or by reference to the volume and page of the pertinent gazette.
    Order Fixing December 15, 2004 as the Date of the Coming into Force of the [Sex Offender Information Registration] Act , SI/2004-157
    http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partII/2004/20041215/html/si157-e.html
    Proclamation: Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act, The Ontario Gazette, Vol. 137, No. 41, p. 2145 (October 9, 2004)
    http://www.ontariogazette.gov.on.ca/mbs/Gazette/Gazette.nsf/Main/555024CEC8FE421785256F31005BF8CC/$FILE/137-41.pdf
  11. Most amendments to the Constitution of Canada are also now brought into force by proclamation, and are cited by regulation number.
    Constitution Amendment, 2001 (Newfoundland and Labrador), SI/2001-117
    http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partII/2001/20011206-x1/html/si117-e.html

Constitutional Legislation

  1. Constitution Act, 1867; originally the British North America Act, 1867, 30-31 Vict., c. 3 (U.K.)
    http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/const/
    http://www.canlii.org/ca/const_en/const1867.html
    Accessible using the table of contents link from the WestLaw statutes database: CANFED-ST
    Accessible through LexisNexis statutes table of contents: CNSTTC
  2. Constitution Act, 1982; enacted as Schedule B to the Canada Act 1982, 1982, c. 11 (U.K.)
    http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/const/
    http://www.canlii.org/ca/const_en/const1982.html
    Accessible using the table of contents link from the WestLaw statutes database: CANFED-ST
    Accessible through LexisNexis statutes table of contents: CNSTTC
  3. Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms; being Part I of the Constitution Act, 1982
    http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/charter/
    http://www.canlii.org/ca/const_en/const1982.html
    Accessible using the table of contents link from the WestLaw statutes database: CANFED-ST
    Accessible through the LexisNexis statutes table of contents file: CNSTTC
  4. Much additional constitutional legislation has been reproduced in the endnotes to the web editions of the Constitution Act, 1867 and Constitution Act, 1982 available on the federal Department of Justice website.
    http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/const/endnts_e.html
    A list of constitutional legislation enacted between 1867 and 1982 and renamed by the Constitution Act, 1982 can be found in the Schedule to that Act.
    http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/const/sched_e.html
  5. As noted above, most amendments to the Constitution of Canada are now brought into force by proclamation. Some amendments, however, are enacted as ordinary federal or provincial legislation.
    Constitution Act, 1999 (Nunavut), being Part II of An Act to amend the Nunavut Act and the Constitution Act, 1867, S.C. 1998, c. 15
    http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partIII/1998/g3-02102.pdf
    An Act respecting the Legislative Council of Quebec, S.Q. 1968, c. 9

Canada (Population: 31,946,300)

  1. Statutes and Regulations
    http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/
    http://www.canlii.org/ca/sta/
    WestLaw statutes: CANFED-ST
    WestLaw regulations: CANFED-REG
    LexisNexis combined statutes and regulations: CANLEG
    LexisNexis statutes: CANSTA
    LexisNexis statutes table of contents: CNSTTC
    LexisNexis regulations: CANREG
    LexisNexis regulations table of contents: CNRGTC
  2. Canada Gazette (Part I has notices; Part II regulations; and Part III statutes.)
    http://canadagazette.gc.ca/
  3. Bills (Parliament of Canada)
    http://www.parl.gc.ca/
  4. A Guide to the Making of Federal Acts and Regulations (Department of Justice Canada)
    http://canada.justice.gc.ca/en/jus/far/
  5. Governor General of Canada
    http://www.gg.ca/
    Proclamation [announcing the appointment of the Adrienne Clarkson as Governor General of Canada],
    Canada Gazette, Part I, EXTRA Vol. 133, No. 3 (October 7, 1999)
    http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2002/20020202/pdf/g1-13605.pdf
  6. Prime Minister of Canada
    http://pm.gc.ca/
  7. Privy Council Office (The Clerk of the Privy Council is also Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the Public Service.)
    http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/
    Order in Council (P.C. 2002-0003) appointing James Bartleman Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
    http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/oic-ddc/OIC-DDC.asp?lang=EN&txtOICID=2002-003&txtPrecis=bartleman&DoSearch=Search+%2F+List
    Notice of P.C. 2002-0003 in Canada Gazette, Part I, Vol. 136, No. 5, Page 230 (February 2, 2002)
    http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2002/20020202/pdf/g1-13605.pdf
  8. Canada Treaty Information
    http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/treaties_clf/

Ontario (Population: 12,392,700)

  1. Statutes and Regulations (E-Laws)
    http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/
    http://www.canlii.org/on/laws/
    WestLaw statutes: ONT-ST
    WestLaw regulations: ONT-REG
    LexisNexis statutes: ONTSTA
    LexisNexis statutes table of contents: ONSTTC
    LexisNexis regulations: ONTREG
    LexisNexis regulations table of contents: ONRGTC
  2. Ontario Gazette
    http://www.ontariogazette.gov.on.ca/
  3. Bills (Ontario Legislative Assembly)
    http://www.ontla.on.ca/
  4. How a Bill Becomes Law (Legislative Assembly of Ontario )
    http://www.ontla.on.ca/library/billsresources/hbblhome.htm
  5. Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
    http://www.lt.gov.on.ca/
  6. Premier of Ontario
    http://www.premier.gov.on.ca/
  7. Executive Council (The Clerk of the Executive Council is also Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the Public Service.)
    http://www.infogo.gov.on.ca/paceweb/owa/intergtd_en.disp_office?IN_UNIT_ID=UNT0000002&IN_GTD_SERVICE=GTD

Quebec (Population: 7,542,800)

  1. Statutes and Regulations
    http://www.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/accueil.en.html
    http://www.canlii.org/qc/laws/
    WestLaw database: QUE-ST
    LexisNexis statutes: QUESTA
    LexisNexis statutes table of contents: QUESTC
    LexisNexis regulations: QUEREG
    LexisNexis regulations table of contents: QUERTC
  2. Civil Code of Quebec, C.c.Q.; enacted by S.Q. 1991, c. 64
    http://www.canlii.org/qc/laws/sta/ccq/
  3. Civil Code of Lower Canada, C.c.B.-C.; enacted by S.C. 1865, c. 41
    http://www.canlii.org/qc/laws/sta/ccbc/
  4. Bills
    http://www.assnat.qc.ca/eng/

British Columbia (Population: 4,196,400)

  1. Statutes and Regulations
    http://www.legis.gov.bc.ca/legislation/
    http://www.canlii.org/bc/sta/guide/ (Guide only)
    WestLaw statutes: BC-ST
    WestLaw regulations: BC-REG
    LexisNexis statutes: BCSTA
    LexisNexis statutes table of contents: BCSTTC
    LexisNexis regulations: BCREG
    LexisNexis regulations table of contents: BCRGTC
  2. Bills
    http://www.legis.gov.bc.ca/legislation/

Alberta (Population: 3,201,900)

  1. Statutes and Regulations
    http://www.qp.gov.ab.ca/catalogue/
    http://www.canlii.org/ab/laws/
    WestLaw statutes: ALTA-ST
    WestLaw regulations: ALTA-REG
    LexisNexis statutes: ALTSTA
    LexisNexis statutes table of contents: ALSTTC
    LexisNexis regulations: ALTREG
    LexisNexis regulations table of contents: ALRGTC
  2. Bills
    http://www.assembly.ab.ca/

Manitoba (Population: 1,170,300)

  1. Statutes and Regulations
    http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/
    http://www.canlii.org/mb/laws/
    WestLaw statutes: MAN-ST
    WestLaw regulations: MAN-REG
    LexisNexis file: none
  2. Bills
    http://web2.gov.mb.ca/bills/

Saskatchewan (Population: 995,400)

  1. Statutes and Regulations
    http://www.qp.gov.sk.ca/
    http://www.canlii.org/sk/laws/
    WestLaw database: SASK-ST
    LexisNexis file: none
  2. Bills
    http://www.legassembly.sk.ca/

Nova Scotia (Population: 937,000)

  1. Statutes and Regulations
    http://gov.ns.ca/legislature/legc/
    http://www.canlii.org/ns/laws/
    WestLaw statutes: NS-ST
    WestLaw regulations: NS-REG
    LexisNexis file: none
  2. Bills
    http://gov.ns.ca/legislature/legc/

New Brunswick (Population: 751,400)

  1. Statutes and Regulations
    http://www.gnb.ca/acts/
    http://www.canlii.org/nb/laws/
    WestLaw statutes: NB-ST
    WestLaw regulations: NB-REG
    LexisNexis file: none
  2. Bills
    http://www.gnb.ca/legis/

Newfoundland and Labrador (Population: 517,000)

  1. Statutes and Regulations
    http://www.gov.nf.ca/hoa/
    http://www.canlii.org/nl/laws/
    WestLaw statutes: NFLD-ST
    WestLaw regulations: NFLD-REG
    LexisNexis file: none
  2. Bills
    http://www.gov.nf.ca/hoa/

Prince Edward Island (Population: 137,900)

  1. Statutes and Regulations
    http://www.gov.pe.ca/law/
    http://www.canlii.org/pe/laws/
    WestLaw database: PEI-ST
    WestLaw table of contents:
    LexisNexis file: none
  2. Bills
    http://www.assembly.pe.ca/

Northwest Territories (Population: 42,800)

  1. Statutes and Regulations
    http://www.justice.gov.nt.ca/Legislation/SearchLeg&Reg.htm
    http://www.canlii.org/nt/laws/
    WestLaw database: NWT-ST
    LexisNexis file: none
  2. Bills
    http://www.assembly.gov.nt.ca/

Yukon (Population: 31,200)

  1. Statutes and Regulations
    http://www.justice.gov.yk.ca/legislation/ (Refers to CANLII for searching)
    http://www.canlii.org/yk/sta/
    WestLaw database: YUKON-ST
    LexisNexis file: none
  2. Bills
    http://www.gov.yk.ca/leg-assembly/

Nunavut (Population: 29,600)

  1. Statutes and Regulations
    http://www.nunavutcourtofjustice.ca/library/
    http://www.canlii.org/nu/sta/
    WestLaw database: NUN-ST
    LexisNexis file: none
  2. Bills
    http://www.assembly.nu.ca/

Note: Population information is for 2004, from Statistics Canada:
http://www.statcan.ca/english/Pgdb/demo02.htm


20050108_aals_statutes.html Copyright © 2005 John N. Davis