Contemporary Canadian Govt. & Politics: A Research Guide: Selected Primary Sources and their Finding Aids

Selected Primary Sources and their Finding Aids:

The following are some key primary sources for research in contemporary Canadian government and politics, listed with some of the finding aids, guides, and special explanatory material or search strategies required to find and use them. They are organized into five categories based on whether the information was originally presented verbally, in print, as a recorded image, in personal papers, or is very current.

WHAT WAS SAID:

• Quotations
• Speeches
• Interviews
• In Parliament (Speech from the Throne, Debates, Committees)
• In Cabinet (Decisions, Public Hearings)

WHAT WAS WRITTEN:

Political Party Publications:

• Party Platforms, Campaign Literature, etc.
• Special Collections

Government Publications:

• Reports (Departmental Annual Reports, Royal Commissions, Task Forces)
• Policy Papers
• In Parliament (Journals, Sessional Papers, Committee Reports)
• Law and Legislation (Acts, Bills, Regulations, Orders in Council)
• Court Reports

News Sources:

• Newspapers, Magazines and Journals (see Finding Information: Current Events/News)

PERSONAL PAPERS:

• Unpublished Sources
• Published Sources

RECORDED IMAGES:

• Film, Television, Video Footage
• Photographs and Cartoons

WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW:

• In Political Parties
• In Government
• In Court
• News Sources
• Contacting People
• Getting Involved in Government and Politics

See also Special Topics for primary source material dealing more specifically with government finance, international relations, women in politics, provincial / local government and politics, etc.