LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE THE APPLICATION OF FEDERAL LEGISLATION BY HARMONIZING IT WITH THE CIVIL LAW OF QUEBEC

OTTAWA, September 29, 2011 – The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada today announced the introduction of legislation in the Senate that will harmonize federal legislation to ensure that it takes into account both civil law and common law. This applies to both English and French versions of legislation.

“Harmonizing federal legislation with Quebec civil law will ensure better access to justice by making the application of federal legislation more efficient, as well as improve the overall effectiveness of the administration of justice,” said Minister Nicholson.

Harmonization involves reviewing all federal legislation the application of which requires reliance on provincial private law. Where necessary, harmonization changes ensure that federal legislation integrates the terminology, concepts and institutions of Quebec civil law. French common law terminology is also taken into account in this process.

This legislation seeks to make harmonization changes to 12 statutes, including the Canada Business Corporations Act and the Expropriation Act. This is the third harmonization bill to be tabled by the Government and it is part of the harmonization work that was begun by the Department of Justice Canada after the Civil Code of Québec came into force in 1994. The Federal Law-Civil Law Harmonization Act, No. 1, S.C. 2001, c. 4, came into force on June 1, 2001. The Federal Law-Civil Law Harmonization Act, No. 2, S.C. 2004, c. 25, came into force on December 15, 2004.

An online version of the legislation can be found at www.parl.gc.ca.

-30-

Ref.:

• Pamela Stephens
  Press Secretary
  Office of the Minister of Justice
  613-992-4621

• Media Relations
  Department of Justice
  613-957-4207