Section 18.3 — Federal Courts Act: Reference by federal tribunal

A federal board, commission or other tribunal may at any stage of its proceedings refer any question or issue of law, of jurisdiction or of practice and procedure to the Federal Court for hearing and determination. The Attorney General of Canada may, at any stage of the proceedings of a federal board, commission or other tribunal, other than a court martial and an officer conducting a summary hearing , as defined in subsection 2(1) of the National Defence Act , refer any question or issue of the constitutional validity, applicability or operability of an Act of Parliament or of regulations made under an Act of Parliament to the Federal Court for hearing and determination.