Foreign Law: Canada

Canada has a federal system with legal authority divided between federal and provincial legislatures and courts. The national legislature has jurisdiction over different areas of law than the US federal government (for example, criminal procedure and family law), and has a strong bill of fundamental rights (The Charter of Rights). The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of appeal for both federal and provincial cases. Provincial courts have the authority to create divergent common law precedents, making it necessary to consult both regional and national resources when researching a point of Canadian law.

The Law Library holds some Canadian treatises (Basement, KE), journals, and primary materials (Sub-basement range 11-18) in print and/or electronically. Our print holdings of provincial law reporters stop in 1995, but these earlier volumes are kept in the sub-basement at SB-14 to SB-16. Current editions of provincial law reporters are generally available through Westlaw for Law School students, faculty, and staff.