"The Fundamentals of Statutory Interpretation by Cameron Hutchison is a welcome addition to the literature on statutory interpretation because it helps lawyers and researchers make sense of a uniquely Canadian approach to this area of law... [It] will assist practicing litigators, academics, and students with questions of statutory interpretation, and it will be an important addition to academic, courthouse, government, and private law firm libraries."

Reviewed by Erica Anderson, Manager, Digital and Web Content

Legislative Assembly of Ontario

See Review in 2019 Canadian Law Library Review 44:3 (page 26)

A fresh perspective

The modern principle is the official approach to statutory interpretation in Canada and is the foundation for the structure of this text. The modern principle focuses on the language of a statutory provision in light of its purpose, intent and context, and Hutchison devotes separate chapters to each of these aspects of statutory interpretation. The Fundamentals of Statutory Interpretation also critiques the various facets of the modern principle with a view to help identify more convincing interpretations of legislative intent. In addition, it tackles complicated issues concerning both the temporal application of statutes, such as retroactivity and retrospectivity, and when legislation may interfere with "vested rights."

The Fundamentals of Statutory Interpretation is a must-have resource for anyone seeking to gain insight into statutory interpretation in Canada. Written in an accessible, easy-to-understand manner, this authoritative volume is particularly useful because it: