Contents:
Canadian Law Pathfinder
The Canadian Legal Encyclopedia contains a large collection of reviews of both Canadian federal and Canadian provincial materials. This pathfinder lists finding aids for Canadian Federal Materials.
FINDING A FEDERAL CASE
BY TOPIC:
The Canadian Abridgment which is brought current by four permanent supplements, looseleaf volumes, and finally, Canadian Current Law. Also Canadian Encyclopedic Digest Western (KC189.5 C7 1978). Start in index for both sets.
BY CASE NAME:
The Canadian Abridgment has a consolidated table of cases. Canadian Case Citations will supply the cite as well as Shepardize. Supreme Court of Canada Reports Service (KC189.5 C26I 1969) has a table of cases to every Supreme Court Decision since 1875.
CASE REPORTERS:
The most comprehensive reporter is the unofficial Dominion Law Reports (KC189.2 D7). For official and other reporters, check THEMIS.
SHEPARDIZING:
Use Canadian Case Citations (arranged by name; with supplements) which will give history and treatment. The Canadian Abridgment’s table of cases and statutes is judicially considered as an alternative; lists cases by name not cite. Updated by Canadian Current Law.
FINDING A STATUTE
Canadian statutes appear first in gazettes. They are published next in annual volumes and are also consolidated from time to time in volumes called revised statutes. The acts are referred to by name and year.
BY TOPIC:
The Revised Statutes of Canada has an index (as of 1997, it was current through 1988). Since the statutes are given a name, it is usually pretty easy to find them. Also the Canadian Encyclopedic Digest Western (KC189.5 C7 1978) brings together the leading cases and statutes on a topic and is more current than theRevised Statutes of Canada.
BY CITE:
The Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985 is the latest consolidation. An alphanumeric symbol was given to each statute for this edition. Supplement volumes update the set through 1988. There are two ways of bringing this current.
- Canada Statute Citator prints amendments to statutes as well as giving a complete history.
- Statutes of Canada is an annual compilation of all acts passed that year. In the last volume for the year, there is a Table of Statutes which can also be used to get a reference to the Revised Statutes of Canada set. This Table will also cumulatively list all amendments to the act. For more recent information, consult the Canadian Current Law: Legislation which comes out periodically during the session.
SHEPARDIZING:
Canadian Statute Citations (with supplements) is a large set which includes volumes for Canada as well as the provinces. Arranged by name of act.
FINDING A REGULATION:
The most recent consolidation of regulations is Consolidated Regulations of Canada, 1978. These appear first in Part II of Gazette. SOR are Statutory Instruments which are regulations. SI are statutory instruments and other documents OTHER than regulations.
BY ENABLING STATUTE:
Canada Regulations Index updates from 1978 Consolidation and is updated with supplement pages. Table of Regulations by Statute in Part II of Gazette appears quarterly and deals with regulations from 1955 forward.
BY NAME OF REGULATION:
Table of Regulations in Part II of Gazette appears quarterly and deals with regulations from 1955 forward.
SHEPARDIZING:
The above tools will also list changes. Another source is Canadian Current Law: Legislation Annual. Canadian courts do not judicially consider regulations.
PERIODICAL ARTICLES
The Index to Canadian Legal Literature is published annually (spine reads Canadian Legal Literature).
HELPFUL AIDS
The Practical Guide to Canadian Legal Research
Updating Statutes and Regulations for all Canadian Jurisdictions
INTERNET LINKS
- Canadian Legal Information Institute. A Federation of Law Societies of Canada Initiative.
- Canada: Government: LawFederal Court of Canada
MISCELLANEOUS
- Canadian Business Map. Some fee-for-information, but a good deal available for free. Economic, legal and business information: learn about federal corporations including their corporate status. Business addresses and telephone numbers, bankruptcies, lobbyists, trademarks, copyrights, and patents. Obtain stock quotes, financial news, industry and regional statistics, legislation, regulations, and more.
- Canadian Intellectual Property Office: Patent Database. Search over 75 years of patent descriptions and images.
- Canadian Intellectual Property Office: Trade-marks Database. Search for registered trade-marks as well as some older marks going back to 1979.