APA Citation does not include Canadian law or government documents. It is challenging for students to cite such item. This documents outlines some basic citation and reference for Canadian government document and legal decision using APA citation style.

1. INFORMATION LITERACY SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
CANADIAN LEGAL CITATIONS IN APA
Updated March 2017| 1
1 LEGAL MATERIALS: SPECIAL GUIDELINES AND EXAMPLES
The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed., 2010) provides
information for citing American law and government documents only. This handout provides
guidelines for the types of Canadian legal materials that students might consult: court decisions,
statutes, and other legislations. Because Canadian legal documents have no author, provide the first
few words of the reference list entry and the date in the in-text citation.
COTR students are encouraged to consult with their instructors for any
preferences or requirements that may vary from the guidelines in this handout.
The following examples integrate guidelines for both APA documentation style and Canadian
legal citations.
2 COURT DECISIONS | COURT CASES
Citing judges' decisions from court cases. Note that juries do not write reasons for their decisions
and that judges at the provincial level do not write up and publish all of their decisions.
R. v. Bernardo, 31 C.R. (5th) 368, 130 O.A.C. 388 (Ont. Ct. App. 2000). Retrieved from CanLII
database.
1st citation 2nd citation
Explanation: This opinion was rendered by the Ontario Court of Appeals in 2000 and can be found
in volume 31 of Criminal Reports (5th ed.), starting on page 368. This court decision can also be
found in volume 130 of Ontario Appeal Cases, beginning on page 388. When more than one citation
is given for a court decision, provide at least the first two in your reference entry and separate the
citations with a comma.
In the body of the paper, cite the name of the case in italics and the year of the court decision.
There is no need to cite a page number, even with direct quotes, unless the instructor requests this
option. Please consult with your instructor.
Corresponding in-text citations
“At trial, the accused’s spouse testified that she was suffering from battered woman syndrome” (R.
v. Bernardo, 2000).
OR
In the case of R. v. Bernardo (2000), the accused’s spouse defended her actions, citing battered
woman syndrome.

2. INFORMATION LITERACY SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
CANADIAN LEGAL CITATIONS IN APA
Updated March 2017 | 2
2.1 CIVIL, SUPREME COURT OF CANADA
Reference List Entry In-text Citation
CCH Canadian Ltd v Law Society of Upper
Canada, 2004 SCC 13, McLachlin CJC.
(CCH Canadian Ltd v Law Society of Upper
Canada, 2004, at paras 52-60 [CCH])
See p. 217 of the APA guide.
2.2 CRIMINAL, PROVINCIAL COURT
Reference List Entry In-text Citation
CCH Canadian Ltd v Law Society of Upper
Canada, 2004 SCC 13, McLachlin CJC.
(CCH Canadian Ltd v Law Society of Upper
Canada, 2004, at paras 52-60 [CCH])
See p. 217 of the APA guide.
2.3 UK PRIVY COUNCIL (COURT OF FINAL APPEAL FOR CANADA UNTIL APRX. MID-20TH CENTURY),
RETRIEVED FROM BAILII
Reference List Entry In-text Citation
Henrietta Muir Edwards and others (Appeal No.
121 of 1928) v The Attorney General of Canada
(Canada) [1929] UKPC 86 (BAILII).
Henrietta Muir Edwards and others v The
Attorney General of Canada, 1929 [Edwards])
See p. 217 of the APA guide.

3. INFORMATION LITERACY SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
CANADIAN LEGAL CITATIONS IN APA
Updated March 2017 | 3
3 STATUTE IN A FEDERAL CODE
In the body of the paper, cite the Act to which you are referring and the year. Cite a page number
only if your instructor requests it. Please consult with your instructor.
Corresponding in-text citation (Youth Criminal Justice Act)
Section 29 of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (2006) stipulated that “a youth justice court judge or a
justice shall not detain a young person in custody prior to being sentenced as a substitute for
appropriate child protection, [or] mental health or other social measures” (p. YC/17).
Corresponding in-text citation (Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms)
“Everyone has the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure” (Canadian Charter of
Rights and Freedoms, 1982).
Corresponding Reference list entry
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. (1982). Retrieved from the Government of Canada,
Department of Justice Canada website: http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/charter
/const_en.html#charte
Because the Charter was accessed at the large and complex Government of Canada website, note
that the host organization and the relevant department are identified before the URL.

4. INFORMATION LITERACY SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
CANADIAN LEGAL CITATIONS IN APA
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4 SAMPLE REFERENCE LIST
References
Canada. Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. (2003). Basic departmental data.
Ottawa: Author.
Canada. Department of Indian and Northern Affairs. (1986, 18 December). Federal
comprehensive land claims policy announced. Ottawa: Author.
Canada. Parliament. “Part I of Report of the Department of Indian Affairs.” In Sessional papers,
1893, Vol. 9, Paper no. 14. pp. 1-402. Ottawa: Author.
Canada. Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. (1996). Renewal: A twenty-year commitment (Vol.5).
Ottawa: Canada Communications Group.
Daigle, P. (2012). Fortitude under fatigue: Assessing the delivery of care for operational stress
injuries that Canadian forces members need and deserve. Retrieved from National
Defence and Canadian Forces Ombudsman website: http://www.ombudsman.forces.gc.ca
/assets/OMBUDSMAN_Internet/docs/en/fortitude.pdf
Divorce Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 3 (2nd Supp), (retrieved June 24, 2014 from CANLII).
Hughes, T. (2014a). The legacy of Phoenix Sinclair: Achieving the best for all our children,
Vol.1. Retrieved from Commission of Inquiry into the Circumstances Surrounding the
Death of Phoenix Sinclair website: http://www.phoenixsinclairinquiry.ca/rulings
/ps_volume1.pdf
Hughes, T. (2014b). The legacy of Phoenix Sinclair: Achieving the best for all our children,
Vol.2. Retrieved from Commission of Inquiry into the Circumstances Surrounding the
Death of Phoenix Sinclair website: http://www.phoenixsinclairinquiry.ca/rulings
/ps_volume2.pdf
Spalding, A. National Museum of Man, National Museums of Canada. (1979). Eight Inuit myths: Inuit
unipkaaqtuat pingasuniarvinilit. Ottawa: Canadian Ethnology Service.