Publication of Proposed Regulations and the Consultation of Citizens

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Publication of Proposed Regulations and the
Consultation of Citizens
Canada Gazette
www.gazette.gc.ca

• The experience of the Government of Canadas
  official newspaper
• Rémi Massé
• Director, Canada Gazette December 10, 2008

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Context
Canada Gazette
www.gazette.gc.ca

• Published regularly since 1841, the Canada
  Gazette is the official newspaper of the
  Government of Canada.
• We publish

• Official public and private sector notices,
  official nominations and proposed regulations
  (Part I)
• New regulations (Part II)
• Laws of public interest and their proclamations
  (Part III).

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Background and Framework of the Consultation
Process
Canada Gazette
www.gazette.gc.ca

• In 1986, within the framework of the Regulatory
  Reform Strategy, the Government of Canada
  established the first policy regarding
  regulation. One of its guiding principles was to
  facilitate access and the participation of
  Canadians in the federal regulatory process.
• This policy was then revised in 1992, and again
  in 1995 and 1999 from a guiding principle,
  consultation became a requirement.
• On April 1, 2007, the Cabinet Directive on
  Streamlining Regulation replaced this 1999
  policy an entire section of the Cabinet
  Directive was dedicated to Regulatory
  Consultation.

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Consultation Requirements
Canada Gazette
www.gazette.gc.ca

• Identify interested parties concerned and give
  them the chance to take part in consultations at
  every step in the regulatory process
• Work with First Nations, Inuits and Métis
  communities and peoples, organizations and
  Aboriginal governments
• Publish proposed regulations in Part I of the
  Canada Gazette including an impact analysis
  statement consultation period to allow for
  public comments
• Review the proposed regulations taking into
  account all comments received
• Publish the modified regulations in Part II of
  the Canada Gazette, including a revised impact
  analysis statement.

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Examples and Statistics
Canada Gazette
www.gazette.gc.ca

• Two examples

• Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations
• Food and Drug Regulations

Statistics

• Published between January and September 2008 39
  issues of Part I, 1700 notices of which 79 were
  proposed regulations, 3344 pages
• Over the past 6 months over 1 million Web site
  visits, 500K unique site visitors, and 3.8M pages
  consulted online (637K per month, on average).

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Communication Tools
Canada Gazette
www.gazette.gc.ca

• Web Site - Common Look and Feel Standards
• Improve access to the Canada Gazette, its Web
  site navigation and content distribution.
• The Canada Gazette Publication Order (2003) made
  the electronic PDF format an official version.

• Consultation Portal
• Canadians can consult the proposed regulations
  published in Part I and actively participate in
  the regulatory process by forwarding their
  comments to the relevant department or agency
  involved.

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Communication Tools (continued)
Canada Gazette
www.gazette.gc.ca

• RSS News Feeds
• The Canada Gazette Directorate offers a free RSS
  News Feed service that allows online subscribers
  to be instantly informed of the latest notices on
  certain pre-selected topics offered as soon as
  they are published in Part I.
• These topics are the environment, health,
  transport and notices of vacancy.

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Communication Tools (continued)
Canada Gazette
www.gazette.gc.ca

• Library and Archives Canada
• In collaboration with Library and Archives
  Canada, the Canada Gazette Directorate has
  undertaken an important project which will see
  the digitization of all issues published between
  1841 and 1997.

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Canada Gazette
www.gazette.gc.ca
Questions
Rémi MasséDirectorCanada GazetteTelephone
(613) 943-7635350 Albert Street, Ottawa,
Ontario, Canada K1A 0S5