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The infobase is a consolidation to October 15, 1998, of all of the statutes in the Revised Statutes of Nova Scotia, 1989 (including the unrevised statutes in volume 12 of the Revised Statutes) unless repealed, the public statutes subsequently in force and not repealed and the statutes establishing the three regional municipalities. It includes all amendments to these statutes in force as of October 15, 1998.
The statutes may be copied or printed (in accordance with your licence), may be annotated and, subject to a minor limitation, may be searched for any word or words using Boolean logic. The limitation on searching is the inability to search for words in the two figures and the thirty-five tables that are graphic images. Over half of these unsearchable tables are in the Railways Act. There are also unsearchable figures or tables in the Agriculture and Marketing Act, the Coal Mines Regulation Act, the Creditors' Relief Act, the Mechanics' Lien Act, the Probate Act, the Registry Act and the Standard Hose Coupling Act. The unsearchable figures and tables can be perused by doing a search for the group "figures & tables". Groups and group searches are discussed later in this guide.
All of the statutes are contained in this one infobase. It is important to understand the structure of this infobase in order to make the best use of it and, in particular, make effective searches of it.
The infobase has a hierarchy of divisions, subdivisions, etcetera, called "levels". These levels serve three purposes. First, the structure of the levels determines the structure of the table of contents which is discussed later in this guide. Second, the existence of levels permits the search of part of the infobase. Searches are also discussed later in this guide. Third, the levels show you where in the infobase you are at any time.
At the first or highest level, the infobase is divided into twenty-four groups of statutes, each labelled with a letter of the alphabet and containing every statute whose short title begins with that letter -- twenty-four groups because there are no short titles beginning with X or Z. This level or division of the database is only added to make the table of contents easier to use.
Each group of statutes beginning with the same letter is subdivided into the statutes within that group. Thus, at the second level, the infobase is divided into the more than 500 statutes in the infobase. This level is used to permit the search of only a specified statute or statutes.
Finally, each statute may be divided into levels, each of these levels may themselves be divided into levels and so on. Some statutes will not have any further levels but others may be divided, subdivided, etcetera, into one or more (up to a maximum of nine) additional levels. Each level is a division of the level immediately above it.
The levels of the infobase are summarized as follows:
2 statute - each of the more than 500 statutes in the infobase
3 Part/Schedule - Part (a subdivision of a statute) or Schedule (to a statute) including any immediately following associated heading
4 Division - Division (a subdivision of a Part) including any immediately following associated heading
5 heading - centred and uppercased heading not included in level 3 or 4
6 subheading - centred subheading
7 form/table - form or table heading
8 insert/Schedule heading - main heading for a Schedule not included in level 3 or heading for insert within main body of statute
9, 10 & 11 Schedule subheading - 3 levels of subheadings within a Schedule
The infobase also has a number of fields, each containing a particular set of information, a particular part of the infobase. The fields in this infobase are as follows:
2 long titles - long title of every statute
3 chapter citations - year and chapter citation for every statute
4 chapter amendments - citations for all amendments to every statute
5 headers - headers (formerly sidenotes) preceding Sections and subsections of every statute
6 Section numbers - Section numbers of every statute
7 subsection numbers - subsection numbers of every statute
8 Section citations - historical citations at the end of each Section of every statute
Groups are groups of records that are not necessarily together. You can create your own groups in a shadow file. Shadow files are discussed later in this guide. The only group already created and of interest to you is the group "figures & tables" which contains the two figures and thirty-five tables that cannot be searched because they are graphic images. You can, however, peruse these unsearchable figures and tables by doing a search for this group. The syntax for such a search is given later in this guide.
Each Section or, where a Section is divided into subsections, each subsection of a statute is a separate "record". Schedules are also divided into records -- generally, each paragraph in a schedule is a separate record. A search reports on how many records contain the word or words being searched for, not how many times the word or words are contained in the infobase.
A standard search searches all of the statutes in the infobase. A search includes a search of the statute titles and preambles, Schedules, etcetera, if any, which are part of the statutes. Unless modified, a standard search includes a search of the chapter citations, the citations for any chapter amendments, the headers preceding Sections and subsections, the historical citations at the end of each Section and any notes. None of these are part of a statute but are added by the Office of the Legislative Counsel on publication of the statutes or as part of this infobase.
A search of the statutes is made by opening either the standard "Query" (click on the "Query" button in the toolbelt at the left of your screen or select "Query" in the pull-down "Search" menu near the top of your screen or press F2) or the customized query "Template 1" (click on the "Template 1" button in the toolbelt or select "Specified Statute(s) Query" in the pull-down "Search" menu or press SHIFT + F1). The following explanation relates to using the customized query "Template 1". If you open the customized query "Template 1", the following window appears:
This customized query "Template 1" is set up to enable you to search from one to five statutes selected by you or to search all of the statutes. To search all of the statutes, first click on the box labelled "Query For:" in the middle of the preceding window. The box in the upper right corner of the window will change from a "Heading" wheel (a complete alphabetical list of all of the statutes in the infobase) to a "Word" wheel (a complete alphabetical list of all of the words in the infobase). In the "Query For:" box, type a word to be searched for. As you type, the "Word" wheel will scroll to the first word in the alphabetical list beginning with the letters you have typed, thus suggesting the completion of the partially typed word, and the "results map" (the box at the bottom of the window) will show the number of "hits" (the number of records containing the word being searched for) for the suggested word. For, example, typing "sheri" will produce the following result:
Either accept the suggested word (by pressing ENTER or by double clicking on the word in the "Word" wheel) or continue typing your word to be searched for. Once you have accepted or completed a word, you may proceed to consider the first hit by either pressing ENTER again or clicking on the OK button at the right of the preceding window. To consider the remaining hits, either click the NEXT button in the toolbelt or press F3 until all hits have been viewed. Each occurrence of the word being searched for will be shown in reverse video as shown in the next illustration. Clicking on the PREVIOUS button in the toolbelt or pressing F4 allows you to review the hits already considered.
As also shown in the next illustration, the reference window near the top of your screen will tell you where you are within the infobase by specifying the applicable levels, i.e. name of statute, Part (if any), Division (if any), preceding heading (if any) and subheading (if any) if within the main body of the statute or similar information if within a Schedule. The number of levels shown is by default three but can be changed by adjusting with your mouse the double line between this information and the text of the statutes.
The searching of specified statutes is discussed later in this guide under Modified Searches.
The spelling of words being searched for is vital because a query will not recognize misspelt words. Not only must the spelling be correct but the same spelling must be used as is used in the statutes. You should be aware of the differences between British and American spelling because, while most Canadians usually follow the British spelling practices, many Canadians follow American spelling. Spelling in the Nova Scotia statutes is generally based on the Shorter Oxford Dictionary and The Concise Oxford Dictionary, with very few exceptions. Please note, for example, the following spelling usage:
-ce or -se (noun) e.g. licence and license are both found; spelling depends upon statute
cheque not check (negotiable instrument)
co-operate not cooperate (but see below)
employee not employe
-ize and -ise e.g. recognize and recognise
jail not gaol
judgment (decision of a court) or judgement (critical faculty)
-ll- not -l- e.g. woollen
-our not -or e.g. honour (but see below)
premise not premiss
program not programme (but see below)
-re not -er e.g. centre or theatre (but see below)
tire not tyre
wagon not waggon
Upper and lower cases are ignored in searching; a search will not distinguish between the them.
Folio Views generally disregards hyphens, that is, a hyphenated word is treated as two words. Hyphenated words require special treatment. A search for cross-examination or vice-president does not produce a result. These words must be searched for as two words or as a phrase. Thus one could search for cross examination or vice president but a search for a phrase would be better. Searching for phrases is discussed below.
Although one can modify a search to deal with words that may be either two words or a hyphenated word, one must also consider the possibility that the words have been combined and the hyphen dropped. In this infobase one can find, for example, "horse power" "horse-power" and "horsepower".
A search need not be restricted to one word. The following operators, in order of precedence, may be used:
2. or as in A or B (also A | B) searches for occurrences of either the word A or the word B in a record
3. xor as in A xor B (also A ~ B) searches for occurrences of the word A or the word B in a record but not both in the same record
4. and as in A and B (also A B or A & B) searches for occurrences of both the words A and B in the same record
Parentheses may be used to alter the order of operation. Thus (A or B) and C produces the same result as A or B and C but A or (B and C) will search for occurrences of either the word A or both the words B and C.
A search for more than one word may be modified by requiring the words to have a certain proximity to each other. This could be desirable in larger Sections or subsections such as those with many clauses. Such a search may or may not require the words to be in a certain order. "A B"/n, where n represents a number, finds the words A and B within n words of each other where the word A appears before the word B and "A B"@n finds the words A and B within n words of each other in any order. So, for example, "dog cat"@3 will find, but "dog cat"/3 will not find, the sentence: "The owner of a domestic animal, other than a cat or a dog, shall not permit the animal to be unattended on a highway."
A search may be made for a phrase by enclosing it in quotes. A search for "governor in council" will find just that expression whereas a search for governor in council (the same as a search for governor and in and council) will find all records that contain all three words in any order and not necessarily together.
A search for a phrase is also useful for hyphenated words like "cross-examination" and "vice-president". They will be found by a search for cross examination and vice president but such a search will also find them as separate words some distance apart. On the other hand, a search for "cross-examination" or "vice-president" will only find those hyphenated words.
As well, a search for a phrase is useful when searching for words that are not normally hyphenated but may be hyphenated when used adjectivally, for example, "No solid waste shall be deposited ..." and "A solid-waste facility shall ...". The words should be put in quotes but no hyphen should be used. A search for "solid-waste" will find "solid-waste" but not "solid waste". On the other hand, a search for "solid waste" will find both "solid waste" and "solid-waste". (A search for solid-waste does not produce any result but a search for solid waste finds any record with both words but not necessarily together.)
A question mark (?) represents one letter; an asterisk represents any number of letters. A search for licen?e will find both "licence" and "license" while a search for license* will find "license", "licenses" and "licensed". The two may be combined as licen?e* to find all of the preceding words. A search for horse* will find not only "horse" and "horses" but also "horsepower" (though not "horse power" or "horse-power").
The per cent sign (%) is used to search for words with the same stem. Thus license% finds not only "license", "licenses" and "licensed" but also "licensing". A search for horse% will find "horse" and "horses" but not "horsepower". ? and % may also be combined. You will not find words with the same stem for words not in Folio Views' dictionary.
The dollar sign ($) is used to search for synonyms. Thus horse$ finds not only "horse" but also "stallion", "mare" and "mount". Of course, for example, "mount" may not be used in any sense related to "horse". You will not find synonyms for words not in the Folio Views' dictionary.
Combining wildcards does not work in all cases. For example, *, % and $ cannot be used together. To find "horse" and "horses" plus synonyms you should search for horse$ or horses$.
The standard query can be modified to perform any type of search of all or part of the infobase. A search may be of a particular level, field or group or of all notes, popups or highlighting. This modified search is called a "scope search" and is begun with a square bracket. For example, a search of the field "chapters" for "1997" will find all statutes enacted in 1997. The syntax is [Field chapter citations: 1997]. Similarly, [Field chapter amendments: 1997] will find all statutes amended in 1997. As well, a level search can be made to find, for example, all references to "farm" in the Agriculture and Marketing Act. The syntax is [Level statute/agriculture and marketing act: farm] or [Level statute/agriculture and marketing act:] farm. If you have created a group, you can do a group search. In addition, a group search lets you peruse the two figures and thirty-five tables that are unsearchable. The syntax is [Group figures & tables:]. Do not add any words to the search.
A level search can be for more than one statute. To search for "farm" in the Agriculture and Marketing Act and the Assessment Act, the syntax is [Level statute/agriculture and marketing act:] or [Level statute/assessment act:] farm.
A level search can also be a multiple-word search. Unlike a single-word search where the word can be inside of or outside of the brackets, in a multiple-word search the words should be outside of the brackets. In a search for "cow" and "bull" in the Agriculture and Marketing Act, the syntax is [Level statute/agriculture and marketing act:] cow bull. (A search for [Level statute/agriculture and marketing act: cow bull] will find all occurrences of cow or bull within the statute; the same as [Level statute/agriculture and marketing act:] cow or bull. On the other hand, a search for [Level statute/agriculture and marketing act: cow or bull] or [Level statute/agriculture and marketing act:] cow or bull will produce the same result.)
The query templates simplify some scope searches. The above search for "farm" or the search for "cow" and "bull" can be done more easily using the "Specified Statute(s) Query" below. The query templates are as follows:
This query template (illustrated earlier under basic searching) will restrict a search to up to five statutes selected by you. This is useful in confining your search if you know what statute or statutes you wish to search. Before commencing a search using this query template, the statute or statutes to be searched can first be selected by short title from an alphabetical list within the template. You can scroll through the entire list or more simply begin typing the name of the statute until the list has scrolled to the desired statute and then either press RETURN or double click on the statute for the name to be completed. The name of a statute may be entered in one or more of the five boxes in the upper left of the template; the boxes should be filled in order. (Note that the template can also be used for a search of all the statutes in the database by leaving all the statute boxes empty.)
Title Query (Query Template 2) - Click on "Template 2" in the toolbelt or select "Title Query" in the pull-down "Search" menu or press SHIFT + F2 .
For further details, refer to the Folio Views electronic "Help" included with this infobase. Note that this infobase has levels, fields and popups but no notes or highlighting unless added by you.
The table of contents is accessed by clicking on "Contents" in the toolbelt at the left of your screen or selecting "Table of Contents" in the pull-down "View" menu or "pressing CONTROL + T. Clicking on "Contents" again or selecting "Document" in the pull-down "View" menu or pressing CONTROL + T again returns you to the infobase.
The table of contents shows the number of levels you choose near the top of your screen. Alternatively, any individual item in the table of contents with a "+" to the left can be expanded by double clicking on the "+" and any expanded item can be contracted by double clicking on the "-".
Double clicking on any item in the table of contents will take you to that point in the infobase.
Throughout the infobase there are "jump links" and "popup links". They are highlighted in blue and are activated by pointing to them and double clicking with your mouse.
References in a statute to other statutes in the infobase are set up as jump links enabling the user to go directly to the beginning of the referenced statute or, where a provision of the statute is also specified, directly to that provision as well. For example, in a reference to "Section 10 of the Agriculture and Marketing Act", the first link takes you to the beginning of Section 10 and the second link takes you to the beginning of the Act. Clicking on "Backtrack" in the toolbelt at the left of your screen or selecting "Backtrack" in the pull-down "Search" menu at the top of your screen or pressing F5 returns you to your last position in the infobase.
In addition, some other highlighted references are popups -- notes that appear upon pointing to and double clicking the highlighted reference with your mouse. For example, where a statute has been repealed and replaced, a popup link will reveal a note giving the name of the replacement statute with a jump link to it.
By default, the infobase opens with one window. By opening a new window (by selecting "New Window" in the pull-down "Window" menu at the top of your screen) and tiling vertically or horizontally (also in the "Window" menu), you can view two (or more) parts of the infobase at the same time.
The infobase cannot be altered; however, a shadow file can be created which will be, in effect, a copy. The shadow file is actually an overlay but when viewed appears as the original plus any changes made by the user. This "copy" can be changed and annotated and notes, bookmarks and highlighting added. Groups can be created. Each user of the infobase can have his or her own copy and each user can have more than one copy.
To create a shadow file, open a new file (by selecting "New..." in the pull-down "File" menu at the top of your screen) while this infobase is open. Select file type "shadow file"; it will have the extension .sdw instead of .nfo. Name your shadow file.
You can print out any part of the stautes by selecting "Print from the pull-down "File" menu at the top of your screen. You must select "View", "Tag", "Selection" or "Records".
"View" will print out the whole infobase unless you are in a "narrowed view"! You may check the view by scrolling with the arrows or button to the right of your screen. Anything that can be viewed will be printed.
"Tag" will print out all tagged records. You may tag records for printing by slecting each record you wish to print and either selecting "Tag Record" in the "Edit" menu or pressing F6.
"Selection" will print out the part of the infobase that you have selected by dragging with your mouse.
"Records" will print out consecutive records that you specify by number. You must first determine the record numbers of the first and last records you wish to print by selecting them and noting the number at the bottom of your screen.
Before printing, you should check "page Setup" in the "File" menu.
Tip: You can print out an entire statute in several ways, but the following way is recommended:
1 Click on the "Template 1" button in the toolbelt or select "Specified Statute(s) Query" in the pull-down "Search" menu or press SHIFT + F1.
2 Enter the name of the statute to be printed and then "OK". Do not enter a query.
3 Select "Records With Hits" in the "View" menu. (You can check the "View" by scrolling with the button on the right-hand side of your screen. You should only be to scroll within the one statute.)
4 Click on the "Print" button in the toolbelt or select "Print" in the pull-down "File" menu or press CTRL + P.
5 Select "View" (under Print Range)and then "OK". NB - If you have not carried out step 3, you will print out the entire infobase!
Tip: You can print out the records with hits resulting from your query with a heading ("Inline Heading") showing where each hit came from in the infobase. Take the following steps:
1 Select "Records With Hits" in the "View" menu.
2 Select "Page Setup" in the "File" menu.
3 Select "Show Hits" and "Inline Headings" and then "OK".
4 Select "Print" in the "File" menu.
5 Select "View" and then "OK".
Remember to reset the "Page Setup" before printing again.
The foregoing was an explanation of the peculiar aspects of this infobase and an introduction to searching. For further information on searching and the other capabilities of the Folio Views software (for example, notes, highlighting, bookmarks, copying and printing), reference should be made to the Folio Views electronic "Help" included with the infobase.