The Canada Gazette

Prepared by Carole Kennedy, Director, Canada Gazette Directorate

What is the Canada Gazette?

The Canada Gazette is the only official medium for the publication of all legally binding decisions of the Government of Canada, its various boards, agencies, commissions and Crown corporations. Who is responsible for its publication? Under the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act, the Minister of Public Works and Government Services has the authority "to appoint an officer of the Department to be the Queen's Printer for Canada, who will, under the supervision of the Minister, exercise such printing and publishing functions for the Government of Canada as are assigned to the Queen's Printer." Section 10 of the Statutory Instruments Act confers the responsibility for the publication of the Canada Gazette to the Queen's Printer. This responsibility was delegated to the Canada Gazette Division of Print Relations and Print Contract Services Sector (PRPCSS) within Public Works and Government Services Canada.

What kind of notices are published in the Canada Gazette ?

Part II contains statutory instruments, regulations and the consolidated index of Statutory Instruments, including extra editions and extracts related to Part II.

Part III contains all the Acts of Canada after they have received Royal Assent.

When are the publications released for distribution?

Part I of the Canada Gazette is published every Saturday, Part II every second Wednesday and Part III whenever sufficient Acts having received Royal Assent warrant publication.

Who are the major subscribers of the Canada Gazette?

For Canada Gazette Parts I and II, Canadian companies are the major subscribers followed by governments, lawyers and universities. Major subscribers to Part III are lawyers followed by Canadian companies, governments and universities.

What are the major uses of the Canada Gazette among business people?

Canadian business people use the Canada Gazette to keep informed of changes to the laws (Part III) and regulations (Part II) which effect their business. As part of a consultation process, the Government of Canada publishes proposed regulations in Part I to elicit comments from the general public and businesses who would be affected by a change in the proposed regulation. In addition, the Canada Gazette contains information which could be of interest to the business community such as information on the general/annual meetings of insurance companies; financial statements from the Bank of Canada and information on the tariffs set by the Copyright Board.

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