Harmonization Acts and Related Information

To date, three harmonization Acts have been adopted in order to harmonize federal law with the civil law of Quebec. Other laws or regulations have also been adopted in recent years to make harmonization amendments. The legislative measures that have been taken will be explored in the following order:

1) Federal Law–Civil Law Harmonization Act, No. 1

The Federal Law–Civil Law Harmonization Act, No. 1, S.C. 2001, c. 4 amended 49 Acts, including the Interpretation Act, the Federal Real Property and Federal Immovables Act, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Crown Liability and Proceedings Act.

  • a) Public Consultations

    • The Harmonization of Federal Legislation with Quebec Civil Law and Canadian Bijuralism – Respecting the Coexistence of Canada’s Two Legal Traditions, November 1997. (copy available at bijurilex@justice.gc.ca)
    • Program for the Harmonization of Federal Legislation with the Civil Law of the Province of Quebec, Fall 1999. (copy available at bijurilex@justice.gc.ca)

  • b) Press Releases

    • Bill to harmonize federal legislation with Quebec civil law, January 31, 2001. (copy available at bijurilex@justice.gc.ca)
    • The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Honourable Anne McLellan, is pleased to announce the coming into force of the Federal Law – Civil Law Harmonization Act, No. 1, June 1, 2001. (copy available at bijurilex@justice.gc.ca)

  • c) Backgrounder

    Bill to harmonize federal laws with Quebec civil law, January 31, 2001. (copy available at bijurilex@justice.gc.ca)

  • d) Parliamentary Business

    S-4 – A first Act to harmonize federal law with the civil law of the Province of Quebec and to amend certain Acts in order to ensure that each language version takes into account the common law and the civil law.

    Please consult the Parliament of Canada website (LEGISinfo).

2) Federal Law–Civil Law Harmonization Act, No. 2

The Federal Law–Civil Law Harmonization Act, No. 2, S.C. 2004, c. 25, amended 26 statutes. It completed the harmonization of 23 Acts, which were partially harmonized by the Federal Law–Civil Law Harmonization Act, No. 1, notably the Bank of Canada Act, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Crown Liability and Proceedings Act and the National Energy Board Act.

3) Federal Law–Civil Law Harmonization Act, No. 3

The Federal Law–Civil Law Harmonization Act, No. 3, S.C. 2011, C. 11, made harmonization changes to 12 statutes, including the Canada Business Corporations Act, the Canada Cooperatives Act and the Expropriation Act.

4) Other Amending Acts and Regulations

Here are some examples of amending Acts and regulations that have been adopted to make harmonization amendments to federal law:

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