FINDING GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS
INTRODUCTION
Finding government information can be difficult because it exists in very large quantities! Usually, the most up to date information is found on websites.
This guide will highlight and describe the most useful websites for government documents in Canada as well as provide tips that point to print and electronic resources at the Regina Public Library.
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TIP: To find electronic government information from the Regina Public Library:
- go to www.reginalibrary.ca and click on the grey tab at the top of the page labeled E-Library Services
- scroll down and click on Government
- enter your library card number and last name to log into the government databases
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LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
There are three levels of government in Canada:
- municipal or city
- provincial
- federal
At all levels, governments generally provide three types of information:
- public service information from departments or ministries relating to roadways and public health, for example
- legislation, or laws and regulations, and
- statistics on everything from neighbourhood profiles to economics and industry
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
Larger municipalities often have websites that provide links to city departments and services.
For links to city websites in Saskatchewan, click here.
For a listing of rural municipalities and their officials, addresses and phone numbers, click here.
All services provided by the City of Regina are available at www.regina.ca under subject headings such as Assessment and Tax, Transit Services, Parking, Roads & Traffic, Employment, and Recreation.
Example: Under Recreation, the city provides an online version of the Leisure Guide where you are able to view and register for programs.
Bylaws
The City of Regina’s most frequently requested bylaws can be accessed here. The Office of the City Clerk keeps the complete compilation of all the bylaws on file and will provide a hard copy upon request.
Statistics
The city’s website provides Regina Facts such as:
- historical facts
- a profile of the city containing the climate, resources, and government
- a demographic profile of the residents, and
- neighbourhood profiles which are useful for deciding where to live in Regina
TIP: In the Regina Public Library catalogue, search the keywords City Regina to find government documents in the library including city budget proposals, general operating budgets, and city reports and studies published on various topics.
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PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
To find links to frequently requested services, scroll down the Government of Saskatchewan homepage until you see the SHORTCUTS heading.
On the left side of the page the Ministries and Agencies heading links to programs and services provided by each ministry.
Example: To search for information from Saskatchewan Government Insurance, click Ministries and Agencies. Scroll down and click on S to find the link.
The Programs and Services link on the left side of the page provides lists of government services and corresponding web pages.
Example: To search for information about driver’s licenses, click A-Z listing, then select D from the drop-down menu.
Example: Under Life Events listing, click on Getting Married to find government contacts for name changes and marriage licenses.
TIP: In the Regina Public Library catalogue, search the keywords Government Saskatchewan or Saskatchewan Government Services to find Saskatchewan government resources.
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Legislation
Saskatchewan laws can be found from the Government of Saskatchewan Queens Printer website. On the left side of the screen, click Search Freelaw for Acts, Regulations, Repealed Legislation, Historical Legislation, and the Saskatchewan Gazette. The Gazette documents the progress of a bill, name changes, and newly incorporated businesses and organizations.
TIP: In the Regina Public Library catalogue, search the keywords Statutes Saskatchewan and Regulations Saskatchewan. Use the Index to the Statutes of Saskatchewan to search for the Acts by Subject.
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Other useful websites for finding Saskatchewan legislation:
Statistics
The Saskatchewan Bureau of Statistics, in conjunction with Statistics Canada, compiles and disseminates statistics relating to Saskatchewan. The Bureau’s homepage lists several Quick Facts about the province including population and unemployment rate.
On the left side of the homepage, click the:
- Monthly Statistical Review and Economic Review headings for in-depth statistics
- Saskatchewan Fact Sheet heading for a snapshot of important economic and social statistics from the past two years, and the
- Links heading for statistics from every province and territory in Canada and from around the world
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
The Federal Government has made their vast website easier to search by providing a Popular Services box at the bottom of its homepage with links to:
- Weather Conditions
- Jobs
- Employment Insurance
- Taxes
- Social Insurance Numbers
- Starting a Business
- Replacing Personal Documents
- Financial Benefits
- GST/HST Credit
- Passports
- Immigration
- Old Age Security
- Canada Pension Plan
A Find Information About box is also available at the bottom of the homepage. Click more to find Frequently Asked Questions by Topic on subjects such as Aboriginal Peoples, Canadian Business, Consumer Information, etc.
The Services Canada link on the left side of the homepage is a point of access to a wide range of government services. Within this link are a variety of searching possibilities including Life Events, Services by Subject, A to Z Services Index, Frequently Asked Questions and more.
TIP: In the Regina Public Library catalogue, search the keywords Canada Government Services or Canada Government to find federal government resources.
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Legislation
All Canadians have a right to access the laws of Canada. The Department of Justice website contains the laws under federal jurisdiction.
The Laws Site on the left side of the screen contains the consolidated acts and regulations. Once in the site, scroll down to Frequently Accessed Laws.
The Canada Gazette is the official newspaper of the Government of Canada and provides another way to access laws and regulations. It contains new statutes and regulations and gives the public a chance to view public and private sector notices, and voice concerns about proposed regulations.
TIP: In the Regina Public Library catalogue, search the keywords Canada Statutes to locate the Revised Statutes of Canada 1985 at the Central Library.
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Statistics
The federal government’s StatsCan website provides Canadian statistical information including local household spending statistics and economic expenditure profiles, for example.
Two useful links within the site are:
You may also want to try the E-Stat site. It provides information in a more condensed and user-friendly format. Click Accept and Enter, then Table of Contents to search subject headings. User Guides are available for further help.
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