About Legislation
- The two main components of law in Canada are Legislation and Case Law. Both are considered Primary Sources for Canadian Law.
- Legislation consists of statutes and regulations passed by the federal, provincial or territorial governments.
- The Canadian constitution divides areas of activity between the federal and provincial government. Some areas are exclusive (postal service is exlusively controlled by federal legislation), while some areas overlap (e.g. immigratiom), which means both levels of government may make laws and policies.
- Legislation includes statutes (also called acts) and regulations. Regulations are connected to a 'parent' act, and deal with matters related to that act.
Comprehensive Legislation Sources
- Explore the "Primary Law" links on the homepage.