Government Information
There is a vast amount of government information available. Resources for finding Canadian government information, including current and past legislation, and freedom of information requests are listed below. We also have a custom Google search set up to search across Canadian government websites. If there is particular government documents or data that you are having trouble finding, please contact the library for support.
Search across Canadian Government Websites
Canadian Government Information
-
Canada Info Desk This link opens in a new windowCanada Info Desk, also known as Canada’s Information Resource Centre, integrates the content of 6 directories into a single online Canadian resource.
Canada Info Desk provides users with access to over 100,000 Canadian organizations, contacts, facts and figures in one easy-to-use online resource. The directories include Associations Canada, Major Canadian Cities, Canadian Almanac & Directory, Canadian Environmental Directory, Financial Services Canada, Governments Canada, and Careers and Employment Canada.
Maximum of 1 simultaneous user.
-
Government Electronic Directory Services (GEDS) - Directory of Public Servants"The Government Electronic Directory Services (GEDS) provides a directory of public servants across Canada.
Information in this directory is supplied by individual federal government departments and agencies and updated by one or more data administrators within each department. Some departments do not list all their employees". -
Government of Canada Web ArchiveThe Government of Canada began using the Web in the mid-1990s to share information about its institutions with Canadians. In 2004, the Library and Archives of Canada Act gave LAC the authority to collect and preserve a representative sample of Canadian Web content. LAC has been collecting federal and non-federal web content since 2005.
-
Statistics CanadaUnder the Statistics Act, Statistics Canada is required to collect, compile, analyse, abstract and publish statistical information relating to the commercial, industrial, financial, social, economic and general activities and condition of the people of Canada.
-
Data Tables from Statistics CanadaStatistics Canada data from selected data from Census and socioeconomic surveys that can be displayed in simple tables or maps.
Canadian Legislation
Statutes and regulations are available online in consolidated (listed by title) and annual (listed by year) format. Statutes, also called Acts, are written laws enacted by a legislative body.
-
Use CanLII to compare older versions of statutes and regulations with current legislation.
-
Example: Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46 (access "Versions" from left hand menu and check off previous versions of the Criminal Code to view changes)
-
The Law Research Guide provides a table listing statutes and regulations for all provinces and territories
Freedom of Information Requests
Most government bodies as well as tax-funded institutions such as hospitals, universities, and police services are subject to freedom of information (FOI) legislation. The Globe and Mail's Secret Canada project has developed a comprehensive website with guides for writing FOI requests and a letter generator.
The process for making freedom of information requests varies by jurisdiction.
Making a freedom of information request:
Search for completed access to information requests:
- Open by Default full-text database of records released from access to information requests
- Government of Canada Completed Access to Information Requests with form to request copies of released information
- Secret Canada's Summaries of FOI requests with instructions for submitting requests for copies of released information