Making Canadian Federal Legislation
On this page:
- Finding Bills
- Finding Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)
- Finding Orders in Council
- Finding Government Gazettes
For concise and helpful overviews of the legislative process see:
- Lederman Law Library's Legislation Research GuideQueens University
- Guide to Making Federal Acts and RegulationsGovernment of Canada Privy Council website
- Coming into Force of Federal LegislationA Library of Parliament Research Publication
- BillsThe Canadian Legal Research and Writing Guide
Finding Bills
- LEGISinfo (open access)The Parliament of Canada website can be used to find the text of all versions of bills considered and those currently before Parliament. LEGISinfo provides the information for all bills considered by both houses since the start of the 37th Parliament in 2001. For bills introduced in the 35th (1994-1997) and 36th Parliaments (1997-2000), LEGISinfo provides the bill titles and numbers and, where available, the text of the bills at various stages in the legislative process and legislative summaries.
- Legislative SummariesBy the Library of Parliament, all information about the bill's passage through the Senate and the House of Commons - including first, second and third reading speeches, major speeches at the second reading (in the Hansard Debates), committee reports, coming into force details, and further reading such as journal articles, press releases and cases.
- LEGISinfo FAQsAdditional information on bills and how they become law, and for information on using LEGISinfo.
Finding Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) (open access)
Official reporting of Parliamentary debates began in 1871 in the Senate, and in 1875 in the House of Commons.
- Canadian Parliamentary Historical ResourcesA searchable database of digitised versions of the debates and journals of the Senate and the House of Commons, from Session 1 of the first Parliament (1867) until coverage on the Canadian Parliament website began.
- Senate DebatesAvailable on the Senate website, from February 27, 1996 (35th Parliament, 2nd session) to current. The Debates can be searched and browsed from the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session (2010) to current. Earlier debates can only be browsed
- House of Commons HansardsHouse of Commons Hansards can be searched. They are available from January 17, 1994 (35th Parliament, 1st session) to current. From the 2nd Session of the 40th Parliament (January 2009) keyword searches of the Debates, Journals and Committee Evidence can be performed using a search and browse tool. Click on Search the Publications tool in the left-hand navigation menu.
- House of Commons Hansards IndexThe Hansard Index is the key to information about what is said by Members of Parliament in the House of Commons during the 35th Parliament, 2nd Session. The subject entries will either provide reference to a page number or, a combination of page number followed by the issue sitting number and time checks in the daily Hansard.
Finding Orders in Council
Orders in Council are available in:
- Orders in Council databaseOn the Government of Canada Privy Council website - from 1990 to current (open access).
- Official version of the Annual Statutes in the Annual Canada Gazette Part IIIOn the Justice Laws Website (open access) - 1998 to current.
Finding Canada Gazettes
The Canada Gazette has been the official publication of the Government of Canada since 1841. The online PDF version of the Canada Gazette has been official since April 1, 2003.
- Canada Gazette, Part III: Acts of ParliamentIncludes Proclamations of Canada and Orders in Council relating to the coming into force of Acts.
- Canada Gazette archivesEditions published from 1841 to 1997.
- Canada Gazette Publications1998 - current.