What is the Canada Gazette?
The Canada Gazette is the “official newspaper” of the Government of Canada. It has been published regularly by the Queen’s Printer since 1841. In it are published new statutes and regulations, proposed regulations, decisions of administrative boards and an assortment of government notices. Private sector notices which are required by statute to be published so as to inform the public also appear in the Canada Gazette.
The Canada Gazette is published pursuant to section 10 of the Statutory Instruments Act, which confers the responsibility for the Canada Gazette to the Queen’s Printer. The Statutory Instruments Regulations regulate the manner in which the Canada Gazette is published, the publication dates and the subscription fees.
How does the Canada Gazette serve Canadians?
1. It provides access
Canadians have a right of access to the laws and regulations that govern their daily lives. The Canada Gazette is one of the vehicles that guarantee that right of access.
2. It engages citizens
The Canada Gazette serves as a vehicle for consulting the general public on proposed regulations found in Part I. Following extensive consultation, pre-publication of a regulation in Part I gives Canadians a last chance to actively contribute to the regulatory process by sending their comments to the appropriate department or agency concerning specific issues that concern them.
3. It assists the private sector in meeting legal requirements
The private sector is also required to publish certain notices in the Canada Gazette. The Canada Gazette Directorate provides an advisory and publication service to the private sector for legal requirements such as those for the protection of our environment. Under the Navigable Waters Protection Act, notice of any building of bridges, roads or buildings which would pass over, through or on a body of water must be published in Part I of the Canada Gazette. Private sector companies such as banks, loan companies, railways and insurance companies are also required to publish in the Canada Gazette.
Part I: Notices and proposed regulations
Part I is most often divided into the following six categories:
- Government house: contains notices of orders, decorations, medals and mention in dispatches awarded to Canadians.
- Government notices: contains notices published by federal departments.
- Parliament: contains notices published by the House of Commons, the Commissioner of Canada Elections, the Senate, and the Chief Electoral Officer.
- Commissions: contains notices published by federal agencies, boards and commissions.
- Miscellaneous notices: contains notices published by private companies, individuals, and municipal and provincial governments.
- Proposed regulations: contains regulations that have not been enacted and that can be commented on.
Public participation
It is through Part I that the Government includes Canadians in the regulatory process. All Canadians have a chance to submit their comments to the government departments and agencies responsible for the proposed regulations before these are enacted and then published in Part II of the Canada Gazette. This is called the consultation process. The name and contact information of the person responsible for a text of regulations is found at the end of each regulatory impact analysis statement that accompanies the proposed regulations, under “Contact.” A list of ongoing consultation on proposed regulations is found on the Consultation page. (http://gazette.gc.ca/consult/consult-eng.html)
Part II: Official regulations
Published every other Wednesday, Part II contains all regulations that have been enacted as well as other classes of statutory instruments, such as orders in council, orders and proclamations. Each document has an SOR number or an SI number. Only government departments and agencies publish in Part II. Also under this part, Canada Gazette publishes an index of statutory instruments consolidated from January 1, 1955. This consolidated index is published four times a year.
Part III: Acts of Parliament
Part III, which contains public Acts of Parliament, is published as soon as is reasonably practicable after Royal Assent to the Acts. It also contains a list of the Proclamations of Canada and Orders in Council relating to the coming into force of Federal Acts.
The Department of Justice determines the publication date of each issue of Part III.
The entirety of this document, and more, is accessible at http://gazette.gc.ca/cg-gc/lm-sp-eng.html.
