The Northwest Territories’ Legislation Regulations, R-099-2026 establishes administrative procedures for registering, maintaining, filing, correcting, and publishing regulations and other statutory instruments. Made by the Commissioner in the Executive Council under section 56 of the Legislation Act, the regulations replace the previous Statutory Instruments Regulations and create a more comprehensive framework for the territory’s legislative records.

The regulations define several categories of instruments and registers. These include regulations, statutory instruments, appointment instruments, appointment revocation instruments, and separate registers for each category. The Registrar must maintain the regulations register, statutory instruments register, appointments register, and appointments revocation register separately from other registers.

For regulations, the rules establish specific filing requirements. Regulations made by the Commissioner in the Executive Council must be accompanied by written confirmation from the Secretary to Cabinet that the Executive Council approved the regulation, as well as a version signed by the Commissioner. Other regulations must include required approvals or recommendations and a signed copy from the person authorized to make the regulation. The regulations also identify who may submit these materials to the Registrar, including authorized officials and designated staff.

Electronic filing is expressly permitted. Regulations may be submitted by email in PDF or another Registrar-approved format. The Registrar must be satisfied that the relevant email correspondence was initiated by an authorized person. Upon registration, the Registrar assigns a number using the format “R,” followed by a consecutive annual number and the year. Email registrations must be confirmed electronically, recorded, and followed by creation of an official paper record.

The regulations establish similar procedures for statutory instruments. The statutory instruments register incorporates instruments previously maintained under the repealed regulations, orders bringing Acts or portions of Acts into force, and other instruments filed for registration. Certain legislative instruments made by the Commissioner under federal Acts may also be registered. Statutory instruments receive registration numbers beginning with “SI,” followed by a consecutive annual number and the year.

Importantly, registration does not determine legal validity. The Registrar must register an accepted statutory instrument even if the Registrar believes it may be unauthorized, invalid, or defective. Registration does not cure such defects. However, filing requirements are enforceable. A statutory instrument must be refused if filed more than 60 days after it was made or if it is not bilingual in English and French. Registered statutory instruments must generally be published in the Northwest Territories Gazette within three months, although failure to publish does not invalidate the instrument.

Northwest Territories (099/2026) October 6, 2026
Disclaimer: Insights are for informational purposes only and does not reflect RRI’s official position or constitute legal opinion.