Laws in Canada
How Canada is classified on 44 of the 48 laws this site maps, grouped by subject. Each links to the full answer and its source.
Body & Life
- Abortion
- Legal on request Abortion is available on request, subject to a gestational limit.
- Euthanasia
- Euthanasia legal Physician-assisted dying is legal nationwide for eligible adults with terminal illnesses.
- Suicide Laws
- Not a crime
- FGM Laws
- Specifically banned FGM is banned by a dedicated law or an explicit criminal provision.
- Surrogacy
- Altruistic only Canada permits only altruistic surrogacy, allowing reimbursement for expenses but prohibiting other payments.
- Organ Donor Consent
- Varies by region Canada's organ donation consent system varies by province and territory.
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- 18 Minimum age to gamble: 18.
- Cryptocurrency
- Legal Cryptocurrency is legal to own and trade.
- Online Gambling
- Varies by region Online gambling is legal in some provinces like Ontario and Alberta, but restricted elsewhere.
Daily Life
- Jaywalking
- Varies by region Jaywalking laws vary by province and municipality, with no federal law.
- Drinking in Public
- Varies by region Public drinking is generally illegal except in Quebec and specific designated park areas.
- Public Smoking Bans
- Partial ban Canada has consistent indoor smoking bans but allows designated smoking rooms in many jurisdictions.
- Driving Age
- 16–17 Unsupervised driving is allowed at 16 or 17 in every province under graduated licensing; exact ages vary by province.
- Homeschooling
- Legal with conditions Homeschooling is legal only under conditions such as approval, registration or inspection.
Animals & Environment
- Fur Farming
- Legal No ban on fur farming.
- Cosmetic Animal Testing
- Banned Canada banned cosmetic animal testing and the sale of such products in 2023.
- Dog Meat
- Legal / not prohibited Dog meat consumption, slaughter, and sale are legal nationwide.
- Plastic Bag Bans
- Banned Lightweight plastic bags are banned nationwide.
Civic & Family
- Voting Age
- 18 The voting age is 18.
- Compulsory Voting
- Voluntary Voting is voluntary.
- Minimum Working Age
- 16+ Minimum working age: 18.
Relationships & Sexuality
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Marriage legal Same-sex marriage is legally performed and recognized.
- Same-Sex Activity
- Legal Same-sex sexual activity is legal.
- Age of Consent
- 16–17 The age of consent is 16.
- Sex Work
- Buying illegal (Nordic model) Buying sex is illegal under the Swedish approach, while selling is not criminalized.
- Divorce
- Heavily restricted Divorce is legal but requires a long period of separation.
- Non-Binary Recognition
- Recognized Canada allows citizens to choose an X gender marker on federal documents.
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Joint adoption legal Same-sex couples can jointly petition to adopt.
- Incest Laws
- Criminal offense
- Marriage Age
- 18+ Minimum marriage age: 18.
Speech & Belief
- Blasphemy Laws
- No blasphemy law Blasphemous libel was repealed from the Criminal Code in 2018, removing the criminal offense.
- Holocaust Denial
- Criminal offense Holocaust denial is a criminal offence.
- Conversion Therapy
- Banned Canada banned conversion therapy nationwide for all ages under the Criminal Code effective January 2022.
Justice & Weapons
- Death Penalty
- Fully abolished Fully abolished for all crimes.
- Gun Laws
- Restrictive Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
- School Corporal Punishment
- Banned Corporal punishment is outlawed in all public and private schools nationwide following a 2004 Supreme Court ruling.
- Military Conscription
- No conscription
- Jury Trials
- Jury trials used Canada guarantees a constitutional right to jury trials for serious crimes and most indictable offences.
Substances
- Cannabis
- Legal Cannabis is legal for recreational use.
- Drinking Age
- 18–20 Minimum age to buy alcohol: 18.
- Psilocybin Mushrooms
- Decriminalized / tolerated Psilocybin possession is illegal but not enforced in practice.
- Salvia Divinorum
- Legal / unregulated Salvia divinorum is legal or unregulated.
- Khat
- Illegal Khat is a Schedule IV controlled substance in Canada, making it illegal to obtain without medical approval.
- E-Cigarettes
- Regulated E-cigarettes are legal but nicotine strength is capped by law.
Nearby countries
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.