Regulations are passed under the authority of a particular statute at either the federal or provincial level. They are published with a citation to the year they were filed, and, like statutes, they are periodically consolidated. It is always recommended to list the title of the regulation, but it is only mandatory for the Consolidated Regulations of Canada (below). For more information on how to cite regulations, see 2.5 of the McGill Guide. For how to cite Orders in Council, Proclamations, and other information published in Gazettes, see 2.6 of the McGill Guide.
Federal Regulations
Federal regulations are cited as "Statutory Orders and Regulations" (SOR) with the year they were filed, and a number. Until 1999, only the final two digits of the year were used. After 1999, all four digits of the year were used.
- Example: Canadian International Trade Tribunal Rules, SOR/91-499 = this regulation was the 499th filed in 1991.
- Example: Migratory Birds Regulations, SOR/2022-105 = this regulation was the 105th filed in 2022.
Consolidated federal regulations are cited to the "Consolidated Regulations of Canada" (CRC) with a chapter number and year of revision, which is 1978. Remember that you must also include the title.
- Example: Government Annuities Regulations, CRC, c 879 (1978) = this regulation is found in chapter 879 of the Consolidated Regulations of Canada.
Provincial Regulations
Ontario regulations are cited as "Ontario Regulation" (O Reg) followed by a number and the last two digits of the year in which the regulation was filed. Including the title is optional but recommended.
- Example: O Reg 45/91 = this regulation was the 45th regulation filed in 1991.
- Example: Hearings Before the Hearing and Appeal Divisions, O Reg 167/07 = this regulation was the 167th filed in 2007.
Consolidated Ontario regulations are cited to the "Revised Regulations of Ontario" (RRO) 1990 (the most recent time Ontario regulations were consolidated), and then the regulation number.
- Example: RRO 1990, Reg 737 = this is Regulation 737 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario 1990.
Pinpoints
As with statutes, a pinpoint reference will refer to a specific section number within the regulation. The pinpoint appears at the end of the citation, with the exception of the CRCs.
- Example: RRO 1990, Reg 737, s 8(1).
For the CRCs, the pinpoint is followed by the year of revision.
- Example: Government Annuities Regulations, CRC, c 879, s 2 (1978).
