MARGINAL NOTES

Marginal notes may be included in regulations, just as they are in legislation. However, they are optional, and a regulation-making authority may decide not to use them.

As the term indicates, marginal notes are shown in the margin of the text, using the same format as in the Acts, that is, in small upper- and lower-case letters. They should be clear, simple and short, and serve as an indicator of the contents of the provision, not as a restatement of the text. If marginal notes are used, they must appear next to every section and subsection and each definition in a definition section of a regulation with more than one definition.

Marginal notes in regulations generally follow the same format rules as those in the Acts, with one exception: marginal notes in a regulation, contrary to those set out in an Act, may be amended without having to amend the corresponding provision^[1]. For further information on marginal notes, please consult the article entitled "MARGINAL NOTES" in section 3.5 of the Legislation Deskbook.

Generally, marginal notes should not be used in amending regulations if the regulation being amended does not contain such notes, in order to maintain internal consistency. However, it may be appropriate to include them if a part or a large portion of the regulation is being replaced.

For suggestions on marginal notes to coming-into-force provisions, see COMING-INTO-FORCE PROVISIONS.

Part 4 – Table of contents

Footnote

• ^[1] Example: SOR/2005-385, s. 15(2)