Canadian Legal Citation

This reference outlines the principles and conventions for citing Canadian regulations and other legal materials. Accurate and consistent citation is crucial for legal scholarship and practice.

Sources of Canadian Regulations

Canadian regulations are published in various formats and locations. Primary sources include the Canada Gazette (Part II for proposed regulations, Part III for enacted regulations), and the Consolidated Regulations of Canada (CRC). Regulations are also accessible through online databases provided by the Department of Justice Canada and other governmental websites.

Citation Styles

Several citation styles exist, each with specific formatting rules. The most commonly used include:

• McGill Guide: A comprehensive guide for legal citation widely adopted in Canadian law schools and legal scholarship.
• Canadian Guide to Uniform Legal Citation (also known as the "Bluebook"): A widely used citation style particularly prevalent in legal publishing and some court contexts. It is a more concise style.
• Other Style Guides (e.g., university-specific guides): Many universities and institutions have their own citation style guides that may need to be followed for legal research papers and theses.

Core Elements of Regulation Citation

Regardless of the specific citation style, key elements consistently appear in citations of Canadian regulations. These typically include:

• Short Title of the Regulation: The official short title, as it appears in the regulation itself.
• Statutory Authority (Enabling Act): The name of the Act of Parliament under which the regulation is made.
• SOR/Year/Number or SI/Year/Number: The unique identifier assigned to each regulation during its publication in the Canada Gazette, SOR indicating a Statutory Order in Council, and SI indicating a Statutory Instrument. The year and number are essential for precise identification.
• Relevant Section Number(s): The specific section(s) within the regulation being cited.
• Database (where applicable): If the regulation was accessed online through a specific database, its name and relevant URL may be included.

Examples (Illustrative, Not Exhaustive)

Specific examples of citation formats would vary depending on the chosen citation style guide and the particular regulation being referenced. Always consult the style guide's detailed instructions.

Further Information

For detailed and up-to-date guidance, refer to the relevant citation style guide. The Department of Justice Canada website is a valuable resource for accessing Canadian regulations and related information.