Government of Canada Privy Council Office
Symbol of the Government of Canada
Privy Council Office > Information Resources

Guide to Making Federal Acts and Regulations

2nd Edition

National Library of Canada Cataloguing in Publication Data


Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

Cabinet Directive on Law-making

  1. Introduction
  2. Fundamentals of the Government's Law-making Activity
  3. Preparation of the Government's Legislative Program
  4. Preparation of Government Bills
  5. Parliamentary Processes and Amendments
  6. Coming into Force
  7. Regulation-making
  8. Conclusion

Part 1 - Law-making Framework

Chapter 1.1 - Choosing the Right Tools to Accomplish Policy Objectives

  • Introduction
  • What is the situation?
  • What are the objectives and desired results?
  • Is there a role for the Government of Canada?
  • What instruments are available to accomplish the desired results?
  • What is involved in putting the instruments in place?
  • What effect would the instruments have?
  • How will the success of the instruments be measured?
  • Which instruments should be chosen?
  • Additional information

Chapter 1.2 - Legal Considerations

  • The Constitution
  • Quasi-constitutional Acts
  • Acts of general application
  • Legal principles of general application

Part 2 - Making Acts

Chapter 2.1 - Getting Started

  • What are Acts and Who is Involved in Making Them?
  • Preparation of the Government's Legislative Program
  • Departmental Planning and Management
  • Strategic Considerations for Legislative Planning and Management
  • Project Planning Templates
  • Schematic Map of the Federal Law-making Process and Associated Support Activities

Chapter 2.2 - Development and Cabinet Approval of Policy

  • Summary of the Cabinet Policy Approval Process
  • Good Governance Guidelines
  • Preparing a Memorandum to Cabinet
  • Preparing Bill-drafting Instructions for a Memorandum to Cabinet
  • Particular Legal and Policy Considerations
  • Activities and Products for Policy Development and Approval
  • MC Preparation Planning Calendar

Chapter 2.3 - Preparation and Cabinet Approval of Bills

  • Summary of the Bill Preparation and Cabinet Approval Process
  • Legislative Drafting Conventions
  • Bill Preparation Process in Detail
  • Activities and Products for Bill Preparation and Approval

Chapter 2.4 - Parliamentary Process

  • Summary of the Parliamentary Process
  • Certification of Government Bills
  • Activities and Products in the Parliamentary Process

Chapter 2.5 - Coming into Force

  • Coming into Force of Acts
  • Activities and Products for Bringing an Act into Force

Chapter 2.6 - Post-enactment Review

  • Post-enactment Review: Issues to be considered

Part 3 - Making Regulations

  • What are regulations?
  • What is the legal framework for regulations?
  • What is the policy framework for regulations?
  • Summary of the Regulatory Process

Appendix - Reference Material

  • Parliamentary Democracy
  • Preparing Legislation
  • Parliamentary Process-General
  • Parliamentary Process-House of Commons
  • Parliamentary Process-Senate
  • Regulatory Process

 

Next