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Researching Canadian Legislation & Parliamentary Materials: Federal

Federal Legislation

This section of the guide covers Federal legislation, from its introduction in the House of Commons in the form of a Bill through to its final passage as a Statute. In addition, it includes information on subordinate legislation such as Regulations. It also includes information on the legislative process, such as Hansards (the debates in the House of Commons and Senate).

See also: Canadian Parliamentary Publications

See also: Bill Tracking/Updating Legislation

For historical materials see the Historical Statutes and Legislation

Federal Statutes

Federal Statutes are the final product of the legislative process, when Bills pass through the House of Commons and Senate and receive Royal Assent to become Statutes. 

Federal Regulations

Regulations are subordinate legislation, and are made pursuant to an enabling statute. In short, regulations are what provide the finer details to the broad strokes of the statute. The person, agency, or department who has the authority to make regulations are listed in the statute, and the final regulations are published in the Gazette.

Federal Bills

Through LEGISInfo, you can access the details and step-by-step information on the passage of bills before the Senate and the House of Commons. For more recent legislation, the depth and scope of coverage is truly remarkable, including material from the House, Senate and even Committees. Coverage extends back to the first session of the thirty-fifth Parliament (January 17, 1994).

Federal Debates

Canada Gazette

Canada Treaties

Library of Parliament Publications

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LEGISinfo

LEGISinfo is a research tool that finds information on legislation before the Parliament of Canada.

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