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Law and Legislation: Top Resources

Legislation Basics

Some Definitions

Legislation = Written and approved laws. Also known as statutes, or acts.

Bill = A proposed statute, not yet approved.

Act = A bill which has passed through the various legislative steps required for it and which has become law. Also known as a statute.

Statutes = Statutes are laws that are passed by the legislature - federal or provincial/territorial.

Regulations = Rules made pursuant to a statute and known as subordinate legislation. Regulations always have an enabling statute; that is, a statute under which the regulations were made and operate.

Public or Private?

Laws or statutes (and bills) are considered "public"if the law is a law that applies to everyone, i.e. the Criminal Code.

Laws can also be "private", meaning they apply to a specific person, place, or corporation, i.e. in some provinces, a hospital or a university may have its own piece of legislation.

Generally, legislation passed in a year is published in a statute volume, with the acts being numbered sequentially 1,2,3 as chapters. The public statutes are typically first, and any private statute is later in the volume.

Legal Databases

Most of these legal databases include case law and/or legislation.  Mostly Canadian, but some International.  

The information in these databases is of a specific nature, so is generally NOT included in a search from the main Library SearchMe! system.

A-Z Database List more databases to choose from ... 

Database Search Tips

1. Use the * [asterisk] at the end of a word to find all endings: 

  • e.g. STATISTIC* will find STATISTIC, STATISTICS, STATISTICAL OR STATISTICIAN etc.

2. Use OR when you're not sure what terms to use: 

  • e.g. POLICE* OR LAW ENFORCEMENT

3. Use AND for fewer, but more precise, hits.  For best results, use the separate search boxes and the drop-down AND in ADVANCED SEARCH

  • e.g. First Search Box:  STATISTIC* AND
  • Second Search Box:  POLICE* OR LAW ENFORCEMENT
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Key Legal Texts

The following legal texts are available through WestLaw Canada:

  • Admissibility of Statements
  • Canadian Criminal Code Offences
  • Canadian Criminal Procedure
  • Canadian Emergency Management and Response Manual: A Guide to the Law and Practice
  • DNA: A Practical Guide
  • Electronic Evidence in Canada
  • The Law of Fraud and Related Offences
  • Search and Seizure Law in Canada
  • Visual Evidence
  • Weapons Offences Manual
  • Wiretapping and Other Electronic Surveillance: Law and Procedure

Definitions