Library Guide to Government Information

This guide is intended to be a general starting point for finding government publications and information. For help finding specialized government documents, see our library guides for Library Guide to Primary Legal Documents, Statistics, and Data

What is Government Information
How to Find and Use Government Information
Books
Databases
Websites
How to Cite
Help

What is Government Information?

Many government departments produce reports, research papers and other documents that can be helpful for academic research and can enhance your assignments. Government documents can be found in print format, or in electronic (html, pdf, etc.) formats. Some government departments may even have searchable databases with valuable information that you will never find by simply using a search engine like Google. The gateways below will help you locate government publications and information, primarily from Canada and Ontario, but also for other jurisdictions.

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How to Find and Use Government Information

The Library is a Selective Depository for Federal and Ontario government documents. Documents received in paper format are integrated into the collection and catalogued in the Library Catalogue. Be sure to check the library catalogue for a variety of publications on your subject.

The databases and catalogues below also list electronic government publications since many departments no longer print copies of their documents.

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Books

InfoSource: Sources of Federal Government Information REF JL71.C3434
InfoSource: Sources of Federal Employee Information REF JL71. C3423
InfoSource: Directory of Federal Government Enquiry Points REF JL.C3445

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Databases

Click here to access multi-disciplinary databases which may provide significant content for your subject area

*Major Indexes*
		E-STAT Connect to E-Stat (click on “ACCEPT AND ENTER” on the welcome page) Statistics Canada's educational database including Census data and CANSIM (Canadian Socio-economic Information Management System). The Census provides a statistical portrait of Canada, and CANSIM provides observations at regular intervals on subjects such as labour, health, income, trade, education, manufacturing, and investment. ESTAT also provides access to publications from Statistics Canada which comment upon data retrieved from statistical surveys – i.e. highlighting economic trends, or giving overviews of crime rates across Canada.
		Federal Government Databases (Searchable) Connect to Federal Government Databases Listing, by subject, of searchable federal government databases available on the internet.
		Government of Canada Publications Catalogue Connect to Government of Canada Publications Searchable listing of all available Canadian publications. For those that are not available electronically, be sure to check the Library Catalogue.
		Ontario Government Documents Collection Connect to OZone Archive of Ontario Government documents. Note that this repository does not contain all Ontario government documents. Documents archived for the repository have been taken from publicly accessible government websites. Please check Publications Ontario (http://www.publications.gov.on.ca/english/) for current material; the appropriate ministry or agency website; or ask your library for research assistance.
		OurOntario.ca Government Documents Collection Connect to OurOntario.ca Access 26,000 government documents from the collection of the Ontario Legislative Library, with new documents being added quarterly. You can find documents by typing in your search words in the search box, or by browsing lists of titles, a list of the ministry/agency, authors, subjects, or years.
*Other Indexes*
		GPO Access Connect to GPO Access Index to print and electronic publications created by U.S. Federal agencies. When available, links are provided to the full-text of these publications.

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Additional Electronic Resources (e.g. websites)

		Canada: Main Site http://www.canada.gc.ca/main_e.html
		Canada: Publications by Departments and Agencies http://gouv.cc/publications/publi-eng.html Provides a list of options for locating Canadian publications, including links to the “Publications” pages of the various ministries within the Canadian government.
		Canada’s Provincial Governments http://canada.gc.ca/othergov-autregouv/prov-eng.html Links to the websites for Canada’s provinces and territories.
		Government Documents and Information Website Collection http://delicious.com/ndoyle/bundle:Government A collection of internet links relating to government documents and information selected by your government documents librarian. Check the topic listing at the right hand side of the screen for more specific subjects.
		Guide to Making Federal Acts and Regulations http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/docs/information/publications/legislation/pdf-eng.pdf
		InfoSource Publications http://www.infosource.gc.ca Links to Canadian federal government publications such as “Sources of Federal Government Information”; “Sources of Federal Employee Information”; and “Directory of Federal Government Inquiry Points”.
		Legislative Assembly of Ontario Documents http://www.ontla.on.ca/ Includes links to Hansard (daily discussions and debates in Parliament), bills and committee documents for the Ontario Legislature.
		Library of Parliament Research Publications http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/library_prb.asp?Language=E Topical listing of legal research on a variety of issues.
		Ontario: Main Site http://www.gov.on.ca/
		Parliament of Canada Documents http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/index.asp?Language=E Includes links to Hansard (daily discussions and debates in Parliament), bills and committee documents for the House of Commons and the Senate.

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How to Cite

Government documents are cited like other print and electronic publications. For more information, see the MLA and APA citation style guides.

Help!

For further assistance, contact the Government Documents Librarian.