Statutes Repeal Act: Reports, Deferrals and Repeals

The Statutes Repeal Act ensures that consideration is given to bringing Acts and provisions of Acts into force. Until laws come into force they have no legal effect.

Every year, the Minister of Justice must table an annual report prepared in accordance with the Statutes Repeal Act in both Houses of Parliament. Annual reports list Acts and provisions of Acts that have not been brought into force within at least nine years of their enactment. All Acts and provisions listed in an annual report will be repealed on December 31 in the year in which the report is tabled unless they are brought into force or are repealed before that date or unless a resolution deferring their repeal is adopted by one of the Houses of Parliament before that date.

Notice of the repeals is published in the Canada Gazette, Part I.