The Department of Justice’s commitment to bijuralism

Bijuralism is a fundamental element of the Canadian legal system where it coexists with other rules that are specific to federal law, other sources of law, and other legal traditions, including Indigenous legal traditions and systems.

In federal law, the civil law and common law of provinces and territories must be taken into account. Despite its level of detail and broad scope of rules, federal law is not a complete system of private law rules. It often relies on provincial or territorial law to apply effectively across Canada.

Since the 1990s, the Department of Justice ensures that federal Acts and regulations are, in the context of both civil law in Quebec and common law in other provinces and territories, accessible, easily understood, and applicable across Canada in both official languages. The importance of bijuralism is also acknowledged in the Department’s other activities, including advisory services, policy development and litigation matters involving the Government of Canada.

As a leader in bijuralism, the department reaffirms its commitment to bijuralism and continues to raise awareness about its importance amongst the department’s legal professionals, wider legal community and general public.