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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between a statute, a law and a regulation?
The meanings of a "law" and a "statute" are synonymous. A regulation, however, provides details that are not found in the statute in the form of: definitions, licensing requirements, performance specification, exemptions, forms, etc.
2. Where do I find federal statutes and regulations on the Internet?
Federal statutes and regulations can be found on Laws of Canada.
If you are searching for recent legislation which has not yet been posted to this online collection of federal statutes and regulations, we suggest you visit the Canada Gazette, which publishes legislation that has recently received Royal Assent.
3. Where do I obtain statutes and regulations in printed form?
If you are searching for a print version of federal legislation, these publications can be obtained from a number of legal publishers. To find a legal publisher, check your telephone listings for “legal libraries,” “legal publishers” or “law books”.
4. Where can I obtain a listing of provincial statutes and regulations?
The Department of Justice does not maintain provincial statutes on its website. Refer to your province or territory’s Department of Justice.
5. What is a government Bill?
A bill is a proposed piece of legislation tabled before a Parliamental committee for review before being submitted to the House of Commons and the Senate for an official reading and vote of support. The Department of Justice does not publish proposed legislation on its website.
All federal government bills are published and maintained on the Government Bills page, which resides on the Parliamentary Internet Site.
6. Where can I obtain a federal court decision on a specific litigation?
The Department of Justice does not publish court decisions. The Supreme Court of Canada provides free access to all of its decisions since January 1993. Other federal courts also provide access to their decisions on their respective Web sites: the Federal Court, Federal Court of Appeal, Court Martial Appeal Court, and Tax Court of Canada.
7. Where can one find a copy of the Charter or the Canadian constitution?
The complete collection of constitutional documents is currently online. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is also available as a separate document.
8. I want to know more about the Canadian Justice System, where can I find information?
Several publications on our site explain the general premises of the Canadian justice system. These include:
9. Where can I obtain information pertaining to mandatory Child Support?
The Federal Child Support Guidelines came into effect on May 1, 1997 (SOR/97-175), and are currently hosted on the Child Support Web site.
10. Does the federal government provide citizens with legal assistance?
The Department of Justice Canada does not provide online legal advice or interpretation, nor does it undertake legal research on behalf of visitors on how specific statutes or regulations may apply to their particular circumstances. For legal advice or assistance, contacting a lawyer or a legal aid program is recommended.
All provinces and territories operate publicly funded legal aid programs which provide legal advice at little or no cost to persons of limited means. For more Public Legal Education and Information consult our listing of provincial PLEI and Justice counterparts or your local telephone directory.
