Canadian Law Times

Canadian Law Times
Title	Canadian Law Times
Publisher	Carswell (Thomson Reuters)
Firstdate	1879
Frequency	Monthly (historically weekly and monthly)
Country	Canada
Language	English

Canadian Law Times is a historic Canadian legal periodical founded in 1879 that served as a forum for case reports, statutory commentary, and practitioner guidance involving courts such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Ontario Court of Justice, and provincial appellate tribunals like the Court of Appeal for Ontario. It has been cited in decisions alongside references to sources such as the Criminal Code (Canada), the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and statutes enacted by legislatures including the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and the Parliament of Canada. Over its run the publication engaged readers who practiced at institutions such as Osgoode Hall Law School, McGill University Faculty of Law, and firms based in cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.

History

The journal emerged in the late 19th century during a period shaped by events like the North-West Rebellion and legal developments following Confederation, coinciding with judicial figures such as judges who sat on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and the early bench of the Supreme Court of Canada (1875–1949). Its evolution paralleled professional milestones involving associations including the Law Society of Upper Canada and the Canadian Bar Association, and debates tied to statutes such as the Constitution Act, 1867 and later constitutional instruments. The periodical documented cases from provincial venues like the Quebec Superior Court and federal disputes involving departments such as the Department of Justice (Canada). Editorial direction responded to reform movements linked to events like the Persons Case and policy shifts debated in sessions of the House of Commons of Canada.

Publication and Editorial Structure

Published by publishers associated with firms such as Carswell, later absorbed into entities connected with Thomson Reuters, the title maintained an editorial office that coordinated with academic bodies like University of Toronto Faculty of Law and bar organizations including the Canadian Bar Association and provincial law societies like the Law Society of British Columbia. Editorial standards incorporated citation practices referencing reporters such as the Dominion Law Reports and legal texts by authors affiliated with institutions like McGill University and Queen's University. The masthead historically included editors who had clerked at courts including the Federal Court of Canada and advisory board members drawn from chambers in cities like Calgary and Halifax.

Content and Features

Articles combined case summaries from tribunals such as the Tax Court of Canada and the Federal Court of Appeal with statutory analysis of instruments like the Income Tax Act (Canada), commentary on administrative regimes overseen by bodies including the Canada Pension Plan administrators, and practice notes relevant to litigation in venues like the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Features reviewed texts by authors associated with presses such as the University of Toronto Press and engaged with decisions involving persons litigating under statutes like the Canadian Human Rights Act and matters brought before inquiries such as commissions modelled after the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism. The journal published continuing professional development material useful for members of the Canadian Bar Association and contributors from centers like the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Legal Influence and Reception

Jurisprudential influence was reflected where articles were cited in judgments from courts including the Supreme Court of Canada and provincial appellate courts such as the Court of Appeal for Alberta; practitioners compared commentary with treatises like those published in the Canadian Abridgment series. Reception among bench and bar referenced personalities from institutions such as Osgoode Hall Law School, impacts on practice areas like insolvency governed by the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, and dialogue with regulatory regimes administered by agencies such as the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. Academic citations linked the periodical to scholarship circulated at venues like the Canadian Law Schools Fair and conferences hosted by bodies such as the Federation of Law Societies of Canada.

Circulation and Accessibility

Historically circulated to subscribers in municipalities such as Regina, St. John's, and Winnipeg, distribution was coordinated with law firm libraries at firms in centres like Ottawa and corporate legal departments serving corporations listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Accessibility evolved with licensing arrangements used by institutions such as the National Library of Canada and university libraries like McMaster University Library and the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Circulation figures reflected membership among professional associations including the Canadian Bar Association and specialty groups practicing before tribunals such as the Ontario Labour Relations Board.

Notable Contributors and Editorial Board

Contributors and board members included lawyers who argued cases before the Supreme Court of Canada, academics from faculties such as Dalhousie University Faculty of Law, judges appointed to benches including the Court of King's Bench of Manitoba, and commentators who later served in public office in bodies like the Senate of Canada or cabinets formed under prime ministers such as William Lyon Mackenzie King and Pierre Trudeau. Legal scholars from institutions like University of British Columbia Faculty of Law and practitioners affiliated with firms operating in jurisdictions such as Northwest Territories participated as authors. The roster featured writers engaged with doctrinal topics touching on statutes like the Fisheries Act and regulatory matters overseen by entities such as the Competition Bureau (Canada).

Digitization and Archival Access

Archival holdings are maintained by repositories including the Law Society of Ontario archives, university special collections at places like University of Toronto and McGill University, and national repositories such as Library and Archives Canada. Digitization projects have been undertaken aligning with initiatives by organizations like the Canadiana.org and partnerships involving publishers like Thomson Reuters and library consortia associated with networks such as the Canadian Research Knowledge Network. Access is facilitated through catalogues at institutions including the National Research Council of Canada libraries and interlibrary loan systems connecting libraries like Queen's University Library.

Category:Canadian law journals