Q. How do I cite and reference a law that has been repealed?

In some cases, acts may be retired when they are replaced by newer legislation over time. For example, in the references below, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and the Family Benefits Act preceded the Impact Assessment Act and Social Assistance Reform Act. 

Reference example: Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, SC 2012, c 28, s 9 as repealed by Impact Assessment Act, 2019, SC 2019, c 28 s 1 

Reference example: Family Benefits Act, RSO 1990, c F.2 as repealed by Social Assistance Reform Act, 1997, SO 1997, c 25, s 4(1)

The above references would only be necessary if you were referring to the earlier act rather than its replacement (McGill Law Journal, 2023, E-26). Each of the references combines reference elements for both the older act followed by the newer one (after the words "as repealed by"). For information on what reference elements would be required in each part of a citation to an act, see: How do I cite and reference a law?

Reference

McGill Law Journal. (2023). Canadian guide to uniform legal citation (10^th ed.). Thomson Reuters.