CDDA · YOUR WORKING TOOLKIT

Good questions. Strong records.

Blank templates to learn, prepare and document your work. Explore freely, without an account or paid membership.

01Read the lesson
02Use the worksheet
03Practise safely
04Discuss & review

How to use these templates

Choose a kit or search by task. Open the fields and checks, then download an editable Word document (.docx) or copy the template. Use fictional information for practice. Downloading submits nothing to the site. Keep completed records in the approved channel; mandates, reviews and permissions remain separate.

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The template library

4 templates shown ·Selected for this workflow.
R-04
Research & evidence

Authority table

Index controlling and persuasive legal authorities.

Download Word (.docx)
Open fields and completion checks

Required fields

  1. Proposition
  2. Authority type
  3. Full citation
  4. Exact provision or paragraph
  5. Jurisdiction and date
  6. Current status
  7. Effect on question
  8. Contrary authority

Completion checks

  • Use primary sources where available
  • Give exact page, paragraph, section or timestamp
  • Separate facts, allegations, opinions, law, inferences and open questions
  • Record material contrary evidence and unresolved gaps

Typical roles: researcher · reviewer

R-05
Research & evidence

Source register

Preserve provenance for every source.

Download Word (.docx)
Open fields and completion checks

Required fields

  1. Source ID
  2. Author or issuing body
  3. Title
  4. Publication date
  5. URL or repository
  6. Access date
  7. Source class A–E
  8. Exact location
  9. Verification status
  10. Archive note

Completion checks

  • Use primary sources where available
  • Give exact page, paragraph, section or timestamp
  • Separate facts, allegations, opinions, law, inferences and open questions
  • Record material contrary evidence and unresolved gaps

Typical roles: researcher

R-06
Research & evidence

Evidence matrix

Connect each proposition to evidence and contradiction.

Download Word (.docx)
Open fields and completion checks

Required fields

  1. Proposition
  2. Classification
  3. Supporting source and location
  4. Contrary source and location
  5. Reliability assessment
  6. Known gap
  7. Researcher status
  8. Reviewer decision

Completion checks

  • Use primary sources where available
  • Give exact page, paragraph, section or timestamp
  • Separate facts, allegations, opinions, law, inferences and open questions
  • Record material contrary evidence and unresolved gaps

Typical roles: researcher · reviewer

R-19
Research & evidence

Legislative definition and scope map

Trace defined words through the exact applicable version, with exceptions and cross-references.

Download Word (.docx)
Open fields and completion checks

Required fields

  1. Bill or Act, jurisdiction, session and version/date
  2. Defined term in English and French
  3. Exact definition and defining provision, URL and passage
  4. Verified scope: Act, Part, section, regulation or imported provision
  5. Context qualifications, exceptions and excluded meanings
  6. Each operative provision using the term and related elements
  7. Competing interpretation and supporting or contrary authorities
  8. Unresolved questions, reviewer and correction history

Completion checks

  • Do not assume a definition applies outside its verified scope
  • Check context, incorporation rules and both official texts where applicable
  • Separate proposed bill text, enacted text and interpretation

Typical roles: researcher · reviewer