Make Your Own Office Consolidation

Ah proclamations. I am sure it isn’t just Alberta where a coming into force section of an act can look like this:

Coming into force
98(1) Sections 77, 78, 79 and 85(a) and (b) come into force on January 1, 2011.
(2) Sections 31, 34, 35, 39, 41, 43 and 49 apply with respect to the next election that is held at least 6 months after the coming into force of this section, and subsequent elections.
(3) Sections 21, 54, 76, 83, 84, 86(b), 87, 88 and 94(b) come into force on the day that a writ is issued under section 40 of the Election Act for the next general election after this section comes into force.
(4) Sections 45, 56(f), 57(a), 58(a) and (b), 62, 63, 89, 90 and 97 come into force on Proclamation.

If you have trouble reading an act that has some sections that will come into force (and you aren’t in Ontario when e-Laws does a great job of this, or looking at Federal legislation, where the DOJ does as well) why not make your own act with ‘pending amendments’ included.

1. Take a Word version of the act before the amendments.
2. Grab a Word or pdf version of the assented or bill form legislation.
3. Insert the amendments before or below the sections that change.

I prefer inserting the amendments in text boxes because they can be shaded – just like the Justice Canada Laws and Ontario e-Laws websites show pending amendments.

Today’s Tip: if you can’t find something the way you need it, build it yourself.