Sources & Methodology

A treaty, a speech and a set of statistics can each provide useful evidence. They do not establish the same things. The source and its limits matter as much as the claim.

What different sources can show

A primary source is an original record. Examples include an agreement’s text, an official announcement or a statistical release.

A treaty can set out legal rights and duties. Its status record helps show whether it has taken effect. A speech establishes what someone proposed or said; it does not prove that the proposal’s expected effects will occur.

Research and news reporting can add context. Their conclusions still need to be read alongside the evidence and any limits the authors identify.

Existing arrangements, proposals and analysis

These distinctions are useful when reading about Canada and the European Union (EU):

• Operating arrangements: Rules or programmes that already apply. Some treaties operate only in part while their full approval process continues. This is called provisional application.
• Official proposals: Ideas put forward by governments or EU institutions. An announcement alone does not create new rights.
• Analysis: An explanation of what the evidence may mean, including possible outcomes and conditions. It is not the same as an established result.

Another country’s agreement can provide context. It does not determine Canada’s rights or prove that Canada will receive the same terms.

Dates and figures

A source’s publication date may differ from the period its figures describe. Trade figures also depend on what is counted: goods, services, imports, exports or a combination.

Figures reflect the cited source and period. They may later be revised or corrected. A date or a source link does not guarantee accuracy.

Limits and open questions

Missing details can prevent a firm conclusion. For a proposed agreement, those gaps might include who qualifies, which rules apply or how approval would work. A possible answer should not be confused with an agreed one.