Page:Statutes of Canada, Victoria 31, Part 1.djvu/64

Cap. 1.   Date of Royal assent to be endorsed on every Act. Effect of such endorsement. 4. The Clerk of the Senate shall endorse on every Act of the Parliament of Canada, immediately after the title of such Act, the day, month and year when the same was by the Governor General assented to in Her Majesty’s name, or reserved by him for the signification of Her Majesty’s pleasure thereon,—and in the latter case, the Clerk of the Senate shall also endorse thereon the day, month and year when the Governor General has signified either by speech or message to the Senate and House of Commons, or by Proclamation, that the same was laid before Her Majesty in Council, and that Her Majesty was pleased to assent to the same;— And such indorsement shall be taken to be a part of such Act, and the date of such Assent or Signification, as the case may be, shall be the date of the commencement of the Act, if no later commencement be therein provided.

 Every Act may be amended during session in which it passes. 5. Any Act of the Parliament of Canada may be amended, altered or repealed by any Act to be passed in the same Session thereof.

 How enactments shall be construed. 6. In construing this or any Act of the Parliament of Canada, unless it is otherwise provided, or there be some thing in the context or other provisions thereof indicating a different meaning or calling for a different construction:

To apply to the whole Dominion. 1. The enactments in any Act apply to the whole Dominion of Canada;

Application of expressions in present tense. 2. The Law is to be considered as always speaking, and whenever any matter or thing is expressed in the present tense, the same is to be applied to the circumstances as they arise, so that effect may be given to each Act and every part thereof according to its spirit, true intent and meaning;

“Shall” and “may.”  3. The word “shall” is to be construed as imperative, and the word “may” as permissive;

“Herein.”  4. Whenever the word “herein” is used in any section of an Act, it is to be understood to relate to the whole Act and not to that section only;

 Interpretation of certain words. 7. Subject to the limitations aforesaid,—in every Act of the Parliament of Canada, to which this section applies:—

“Her Majesty,” &c. First. The words “Her Majesty,” “the Queen,” or “the Crown,” shall mean—Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, Sovereigns of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland;

“Governor,” &c. Secondly. The words “Governor,” “Governor of Canada,” “Governor General,” or “Governor in Chief,” shall mean—the Governor General for the time being of Canada, or other the Chief Executive Officer or Administrator for the time being carrying