Citations to decisions of administrative bodies and tribunals, as well as to arbitration decisions, generally follow similar rules as for jurisprudence. (see How to Cite a Case – Pattern #1 (With Neutral Citation), Pattern #2 (With CanLII Citation), and Pattern #3 (Other Sources)).
This is covered in section 6.9 of the COAL Guide.
For administrative decisions with a neutral citation, follow Pattern #1 (With Neutral Citation).
For administrative decisions without a neutral citation but with a CanLII citation, follow Pattern #2 (With CanLII citation) with these changes:
- Replace the jurisdiction and level of court with the tribunal identifier in parentheses at the end of the citation.
- If no reporter citations are available for the parallel citation, cite simply to the CanLII citation without a parallel citation.
- example: Robertson v Retail Wholesale Union, Local 580, 2000 CanLII 27388 at para 8 (BCLRB).
For administrative decisions without a neutral citation or CanLII citation, follow Pattern #3 (Other Sources) with these changes:
- Replace the jurisdiction and level of court with the tribunal identifier in parentheses at the end of the citation.
- If only one reporter or database citation is available, cite to that reporter but also include the file or decision number.
- example: Kosar v IBEW, Local 2038, 2005 CarswellSask 1042, LRB File No 046-04 (SKLRB).
- Add the database or website that you used to view the decision if you are including a pinpoint or will be in a subsequent reference. If it is a website rather than a database, include the URL of the homepage.
- example: Kosar v IBEW, Local 2038, 2005 CarswellSask 1042, LRB File No 046-04 at para 13 (Westlaw) (SKLRB).
- example: Kosar v IBEW, Local 2038, 2005 CarswellSask 1042, LRB File No 046-04 (Westlaw) (SKLRB). [if you will be using a pinpoint in a subsequent reference]
For administrative decisions without a neutral citation, CanLII citation or reporter or database citation available, include the file or decision number.
example: Corus Television Limited Partnership, CRTC 2024-32.
- Add the database or website that you used to view the decision if you are including a pinpoint or will be in a subsequent reference. If it is a website rather than a database, include the URL of the homepage. Note in this example that the tribunal identifier has not been added to the end because it is included in the decision number ("CRTC").
- example: Corus Television Limited Partnership, CRTC 2024-32 at para 8 (crtc.gc.ca).
- example: Corus Television Limited Partnership, CRTC 2024-32 (crtc.gc.ca). [if you will be using a pinpoint in a subsequent reference]
