Plain-English summaries of Canadian federal bills, including what each bill changes, who it affects, current status, votes, sponsors, timelines, and Parliament sources.
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 28 October 2025, Sen. Pierre Moreau introduced Bill S-3, An Act to amend the Weights and Measures Act, the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act, the Weights and Measures Regulations and the Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations in the Senate and it was given first reading. Bill S-3 amends the Weights and Measures Act to, among other things, clarify existing powers, duties and functions of the Minister of Industry and inspectors, provide the Minister with certain powers, including with respect to sampling when devices are examined and with respect to corrective and preventive measures, and provide inspectors with certain powers. It also amends the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act to, among other things, broaden the definition of “meter”, provide the president with the authority to grant certain exemptions, clarify the steps required to put a device into service, clarify existing powers, duties and functions of the Minister and inspectors, provide the Minister with certain powers, including with respect to sampling when meters are examined and with respect to corrective and preventive measures, and provide inspectors with certain powers. It also repeals certain provisions in the Weights and Measures Regulations and the Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations. Finally, it includes transitional provisions.
Updated Apr 29, 202645th Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Pierre Moreau
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 24 February 2026, Sen. Pierre Moreau introduced Bill S-6, A fourth Act to harmonize federal law with the civil law of Quebec and to amend certain Acts in order to ensure that each language version takes into account the common law and the civil law (Federal Law–Civil Law Harmonization Act, No. 4) in the Senate and it was given first reading. Bill S-6 is the fourth in a series of enactments drafted in the course of the harmonization of federal statutes by the Department of Justice of Canada as a result of the coming into force of the Civil Code of Québec in 1994, which substantially changed the concepts, institutions and terminology of civil law. It amends 51 statutes, including the Acts governing financial institutions — the Bank Act, the Cooperative Credit Associations Act, the Insurance Companies Act and the Trust and Loan Companies Act — and other Acts including the Access to Information Act, the Financial Administration Act, the Interpretation Act and the Official Languages Act, in order to ensure that each language version takes into account the common law and the civil law.
Updated Apr 16, 202645th Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Pierre Moreau
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information, Education and Research Services of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 5 June 2025, the Minister of Finance and National Revenue introduced Bill C-4, An Act respecting certain affordability measures for Canadians and another measure (Making Life More Affordable for Canadians Act) and it was given first reading. Part 1 amends the Income Tax Act to reduce the marginal personal income tax rate on the lowest tax bracket to 14.5% for the 2025 taxation year and to 14% for the 2026 and subsequent taxation years. Part 2 amends the Excise Tax Act and other related Regulations to implement a temporary GST new housing rebate for first-time home buyers. Part 3 repeals Part 1 of the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act and the Fuel Charge Regulations. Part 4 amends the Canada Elections Act to make changes to the requirements relating to political parties’ policies for the protection of personal information.
Updated Mar 12, 202645th Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: François-Philippe Champagne
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 29 May 2025, Sen. Marc Gold introduced Bill S-2, An Act to amend the Indian Act (new registration entitlements) in the Senate and it was given first reading. Bill S-2 amends the Indian Act to provide, among other things, new entitlements to registration in the Indian Register in response to the challenge of certain provisions of the Act under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in Nicholas v. Canada (Attorney General) and that the persons who have become so entitled also have the right to have their names entered in a Band List maintained in the Department of Indigenous Services.
Updated Feb 27, 202645th Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Marc Gold
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information, Education and Research Services of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 5 June 2025, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship introduced Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025) and it was given first reading. Bill C-3 amends the Citizenship Act to, among other things, (a) ensure that citizenship by descent is conferred on all persons who were born outside Canada before the coming into force of this enactment to a parent who was a citizen; (b) confer citizenship by descent on persons born outside Canada after the first generation, on or after the coming into force of this enactment, to a parent who is a citizen and who had a substantial connection to Canada before the person’s birth; (c) allow citizenship to be granted under section 5.1 of that Act to all persons born outside Canada who were adopted before the coming into force of this enactment by a parent who was a citizen; (d) allow citizenship to be granted under section 5.1 of that Act to persons born outside Canada who are adopted on or after the coming into force of this enactment by a parent who is a citizen and who had a substantial connection to Canada before the person’s adoption; (e) restore citizenship to persons who lost their citizenship because they did not make an application to retain it under the former section 8 of that Act or because they made an application under that section that was not approved; and (f) allow certain persons who become citizens as a result of the coming into force of this enactment to access a simplified process to renounce their citizenship.
Updated Nov 20, 202545th Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Lena Metlege Diab
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information, Education and Research Services of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 3 June 2025, the Minister of Public Safety introduced Bill C-2, An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of the border between Canada and the United States and respecting other related security measures (Strong Borders Act) and it was given first reading. Part 1 amends the Customs Act to provide the Canada Border Services Agency with facilities free of charge for carrying out any purpose related to the administration or enforcement of that Act and other Acts of Parliament and to provide officers of that Agency with access at certain locations to goods destined for export. It also includes transitional provisions. Part 2 amends the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to create a new temporary accelerated scheduling pathway that allows the Minister of Health to add precursor chemicals to Schedule V to that Act. It also makes related amendments to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Police Enforcement) Regulations and the Precursor Control Regulations. Part 3 amends the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Cannabis Act to confirm that the Governor in Council may, on the recommendation of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, make regulations exempting members of law enforcement from the application of any provision of the Criminal Code that creates drug-related inchoate offences when they are undertaking lawful investigations. Part 4 amends the Canada Post Corporation Act to permit the demand, seizure, detention or retention of anything in the course of post only in accordance with an Act of Parliament. It also amends that Act to expand the Canada Post Corporation’s authority to open mail in certain circumstances to include the authority to open letters. Part 5 amends the Oceans Act to provide that coast guard services include activities related to security and to authorize the responsible minister to collect, analyze and disclose information and intelligence. Part 6 amends the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Act to authorize the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to disclose, for certain purposes and subject to any regulations, personal information under the control of the Department within the Department and to certain other federal and provincial government entities. It also amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to authorize the making of regulations relating to the disclosure of information collected for the purposes of that Act to federal departments and agencies. Part 7 amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to, among other things, (a) eliminate the designated countries of origin regime; (b) authorize the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to specify the information and documents that are required in support of a claim for refugee protection; (c) authorize the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board to determine that claims for refugee protection that have not yet been referred to the Refugee Protection Division have been abandoned in certain circumstances; (d) provide the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration with the power to determine that claims for refugee protection that have not yet been referred to the Refugee Protection Division have been withdrawn in certain circumstances; (e) require the Refugee Protection Division and the Refugee Appeal Division to suspend certain proceedings respecting a claim for refugee protection if the claimant is not present in Canada; (f) clarify that decisions of the Immigration and Refugee Board must be rendered, and reasons for those decisions must be given, in the manner specified by its Chairperson; and (g) authorize regulations to be made setting out the circumstances in which the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration or the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness must designate, in relation to certain proceedings or applications, a representative for persons who are under 18 years of age or who are unable to appreciate the nature of the proceeding or application. It also includes transitional provisions. Part 8 amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to, among other things, (a) authorize the Governor in Council to make an order specifying that certain applications made under that Act are not to be accepted for processing, or that the processing of those applications is to be suspended or terminated, when the Governor in Council is of the opinion that it is in the public interest to do so; (b) authorize the Governor in Council to make an order to cancel, suspend or vary certain documents issued under that Act, or to impose or vary conditions, when the Governor in Council is of the opinion that it is in the public interest to do so; (c) for the application of an order referred to in paragraph (b), require a person to appear for an examination, answer questions truthfully and produce all relevant documents or evidence that an officer requires; and (d) authorize the Governor in Council to make regulations prescribing circumstances in which a document issued under that Act can be cancelled, suspended or varied, and in which officers may terminate the processing of certain applications made under that Act. Part 9 amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to add two new grounds of ineligibility for claims for refugee protection as well as powers to make regulations respecting exceptions to those new grounds. It also includes a transitional provision respecting the retroactive application of those new grounds. Part 10 amends the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act to, among other things, (a) increase the maximum administrative monetary penalties that may be imposed for certain violations and the maximum punishments that may be imposed for certain criminal offences under that Act; (b) replace the existing optional compliance agreement regime with a new mandatory compliance agreement regime that, among other things, (i) requires every person or entity that receives an administrative monetary penalty for a prescribed violation to enter into a compliance agreement with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (the Centre), (ii) requires the Director of the Centre to make a compliance order if the person or entity refuses to enter into a compliance agreement or fails to comply with such an agreement, and (iii) designates the contravention of a compliance order as a new violation under that Act; (c) require persons or entities referred to in section 5 of that Act, other than those already required to register, to enroll with the Centre; and (d) authorize the Centre to disclose certain information to the Commissioner of Canada Elections, subject to certain conditions. It also makes consequential and related amendments to other Acts and the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations and includes transitional provisions. Part 11 amends the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act to prohibit certain entities from accepting cash deposits from third parties and certain persons or entities from accepting cash payments, donations or deposits of $10,000 or more. It also makes a related amendment to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations. Part 12 amends the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Act to make the Director of the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada a member of the committee established under subsection 18(1) of that Act. It also amends the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act to enable the Director to exchange information with the other members of that committee. Part 13 amends the Sex Offender Information Registration Act to, among other things, (a) make certain changes to a sex offender’s reporting obligations, including the circumstances in which they are required to report, the information that must be provided and the time within which it is to be provided; (b) provide that any of a sex offender’s physical characteristics that may assist in their identification may be recorded when they report to a registration centre; (c) clarify what may constitute a reasonable excuse for a sex offender’s non-compliance with the requirement to give at least 14 days’ notice prior to a departure from their residence for seven or more consecutive days; (d) authorize the Canada Border Services Agency to disclose certain information relating to a sex offender’s arrival in and departure from Canada to law enforcement agencies for the purposes of the administration and enforcement of that Act; (e) authorize, in certain circumstances, the disclosure of information collected under that Act if there are reasonable grounds to believe that it will assist in the prevention or investigation of a crime of a sexual nature; and (f) clarify that a person who discloses information under section 16 of that Act with the belief that they are acting in accordance with that section is not guilty of an offence under section 17 of that Act. It also makes a related amendment to the Customs Act. Part 14 amends various Acts to modernize certain provisions respecting the timely gathering and production of data and information during an investigation. It, among other things, (a) amends the Criminal Code to, among other things, (i) facilitate access to basic information that will assist in the investigation of federal offences through an information demand or a judicial production order to persons who provide services to the public, (ii) clarify the response time for production orders and the ability of peace officers and public officers to receive and act on certain information that is voluntarily provided to them and on certain information that is publicly available, (iii) specify certain circumstances in which peace officers and public officers may obtain evidence, including subscriber information, in exigent circumstances, (iv) allow a justice or judge to authorize, in a warrant, a peace officer or public officer to obtain tracking data or transmission data that relates to any thing that is similar to a thing in relation to which data is authorized to be obtained under the warrant and that is unknown at the time the warrant is issued, (v) provide and clarify authorities by which computer data may be examined, and (vi) allow a justice or judge to authorize a peace officer or public officer to make a request to a foreign entity that provides telecommunications services to the public to produce transmission data or subscriber information that is in its possession or control; (b) makes a consequential amendment to the Foreign Publishers Advertising Services Act; (c) amends the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act to allow the Minister of Justice to authorize a competent authority to make arrangements for the enforcement of a decision made by an authority of a state or entity that is empowered to compel the production of transmission data or subscriber information that is in the possession or control of a person in Canada; (d) amends the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act to, among other things, (i) facilitate access to basic information that will assist the Canadian Security Intelligence Service in the performance of its duties and functions under section 12 or 16 of that Act through information demands given to persons or entities that provide services to the public and judicial information orders against such persons and entities, and (ii) clarify the response time for production orders; and (e) amends the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Cannabis Act to provide and clarify authorities by which computer data may be examined. Part 15 enacts the Supporting Authorized Access to Information Act. That Act establishes a framework for ensuring that electronic service providers can facilitate the exercise, by authorized persons, of authorities to access information conferred under the Criminal Code or the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act. Part 16 amends the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act to permit a person or entity referred to in section 5 of that Act to collect and use an individual’s personal information without that individual’s knowledge or consent if (a) the information is disclosed to the person or entity by a government department, institution or agency or law enforcement agency; and (b) the collection and use are for the purposes of detecting or deterring money laundering, terrorist activity financing or sanctions evasion or for a consistent purpose. It also makes related amendments to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.
Updated Sep 17, 202545th Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Gary Anandasangaree
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information, Education and Research Services of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 6 June 2025, the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy introduced Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act One Canadian Economy Act) and it was given first reading. Part 1 enacts the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act, which establishes a statutory framework to remove federal barriers to the interprovincial trade of goods and services and to improve labour mobility within Canada. In the case of goods and services, that Act provides that a good or service that meets provincial or territorial requirements is considered to meet comparable federal requirements that pertain to the interprovincial movement of the good or provision of the service. In the case of workers, it provides for the recognition of provincial and territorial authorizations to practise occupations and for the issuance of comparable federal authorizations to holders of such provincial and territorial authorizations. It also provides the Governor in Council with the power to make regulations respecting federal barriers to the interprovincial movement of goods and provision of services and to the movement of labour within Canada. Part 2 enacts the Building Canada Act, which, among other things, (a) authorizes the Governor in Council to add the name of a project and a brief description of it to a schedule to that Act if the Governor in Council is of the opinion, having regard to certain factors, that the project is in the national interest; (b) provides that determinations and findings that have to be made and opinions that have to be formed under certain Acts of Parliament and regulations for an authorization to be granted in respect of a project that is named in Schedule 1 to that Act are deemed to have been made or formed, as the case may be, in favour of permitting the project to be carried out in whole or in part; (c) requires the minister who is designated under that Act to issue to the proponent of a project, if certain conditions are met, a document that sets out conditions that apply in respect of the project and that is deemed to be the authorizations, required under certain Acts of Parliament and regulations, that are specified in the document; and (d) requires that minister, each year, to cause an independent review to be conducted of the status of each national interest project.
Updated Jun 26, 202545th Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Dominic LeBlanc
The Library of Parliament does not prepare Legislative Summaries for appropriation bills, ways and means bills and borrowing-authority bills. The following is a short summary: On 17 June 2025, the President of the Treasury Board introduced Bill C-6, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2026, in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-6 (Appropriation Act No. 1, 2025-26) received Royal Assent on 26 June 2025 and authorizes payments to defray certain expenses of the public service of Canada, not otherwise provided for, for the financial year ending 31 March 2026. The Act provides for the sum of $149,771,149,015 to be appropriated from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to be used the public service of Canada. The Act came into force on Royal Assent.
Updated Jun 26, 202545th Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Shafqat Ali
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information, Education and Research Services of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 21 November 2023, Sen. Marc Gold introduced Bill S-15, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act, and it was given first reading. Bill S-15 amends the Criminal Code to create offences related to keeping elephants and great apes in captivity, subject to certain exceptions. It also amends the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act to, among other things, specify the circumstances in which the importation or exportation of living elephants and great apes may be permitted as well as the circumstances in which the keeping of these animals in captivity may be authorized.
Updated Dec 17, 202444th Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Marc Gold
The Library of Parliament does not prepare Legislative Summaries for bills that implement treaties, conventions, agreements or administrative arrangements bills. The following is a short summary: On 8 February 2024, Sen. Marc Gold introduced Bill S-16, An Act respecting the recognition of the Haida Nation and the Council of the Haida Nation (Haida Nation Recognition Act), and it was given first reading. Bill S-16 implements certain sections of the agreement entitled “Nang K_’uula • Nang K_’úulaas Recognition Agreement.”
Updated Nov 7, 202444th Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Marc Gold
The Library of Parliament does not prepare Legislative Summaries for bills that implement treaties, conventions, agreements or administrative arrangements bills. The following is a short summary: On 2 June 2022, Sen. Marc Gold introduced Bill S-9, An Act to amend the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act and it was given first reading. Bill S-9 amends the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act by deleting the schedule to that Act and the references to that schedule in that Act, in order to avoid potential discrepancies between the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, as amended from time to time, and the portions of that Convention that are reproduced in that schedule.
Updated Jun 20, 202444th Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Marc Gold
The Library of Parliament does not prepare Legislative Summaries for self-explanatory measures. The following is a short summary: On 19 March 2024, Sen. Marc Gold introduced Bill S-17, An Act to correct certain anomalies, inconsistencies, out-dated terminology and errors and to deal with other matters of a non-controversial and uncomplicated nature in the Statutes and Regulations of Canada and to repeal certain provisions that have expired, lapsed or otherwise ceased to have effect (Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2023), and it was given first reading. Bill S-17 is the 13th in a series of bills introduced under the Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment (MSLA) Program. It amends 58 Acts and three related regulations to correct errors in grammar, spelling, terminology and punctuation, erroneous cross-references, archaic wording and discrepancies between the English version and the French versions. It also updates the designation of professionals and the name of a tribunal. For example, it changes the name the Review Tribunal to the Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal to reflect the operational name of that tribunal. Other amendments correct the names of courts in certain provinces to reflect changes resulting from the reorganization of the courts in question. Finally, it repeals three provisions from Acts that no longer have any application, for example, the repeal of section 12 of the Department of Transport Act. This enactment has been drafted based on the Twenty-First Report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights tabled in the House of Commons on February 12, 2024 and the Twenty-First Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs tabled in the Senate on December 12, 2023.
Updated Jun 19, 202444th Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Marc Gold
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information, Education and Research Services of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 19 October 2023, Sen. Marc Gold introduced Bill S-14, An Act to amend the Canada National Parks Act, the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act, the Rouge National Urban Park Act and the National Parks of Canada Fishing Regulations (Protecting Canada’s Natural Wonders Act), and it was given first reading. Bill S-14 amends the Canada National Parks Act to, among other things, (a) broaden and clarify offences in relation to the discharge or deposit of substances in a national park or national park reserve; (b) expand the boundaries of seven national parks and one national park reserve; (c) establish the Akami-Uapishk?–KakKasuak–Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve of Canada and enact provisions for its operation and administration; and (d) change the name of “Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve of Canada” to “Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site”. The enactment also amends the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act to establish the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area and the Rouge National Urban Park Act to broaden and clarify offences in relation to the discharge or deposit of substances in that Park and makes consequential amendments to the National Parks of Canada Fishing Regulations.
Updated Feb 27, 202444th Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Marc Gold
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 9 February 2022, Sen. Marc Gold introduced Bill S-5 An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, to make related amendments to the Food and Drugs Act and to repeal the Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Virtual Elimination Act (Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act) and it was given first reading. Bill S-5 amends the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 to, among other things, (a) recognize that every individual in Canada has a right to a healthy environment as provided under that Act; (b) provide that the Government of Canada must protect that right as provided under that Act, and, in doing so, may balance that right with relevant factors; (c) require the development of an implementation framework that sets out how that right will be considered in the administration of that Act, and require that research, studies or monitoring activities be conducted to support the Government of Canada in protecting that right; (d) authorize the Minister of the Environment to add to the Domestic Substances List certain substances that were in commerce in Canada and subject to the Food and Drugs Act between January 1, 1987 and September 13, 2001, and provide that any substance may be deleted from the List when it is no longer in commerce in Canada; (e) require that the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health develop a plan that specifies the substances to which those Ministers are satisfied priority should be given in assessing whether they are toxic or capable of becoming toxic; (f) provide that any person may request that those Ministers assess a substance; (g) require the Minister of the Environment to compile a list of substances that that Minister and the Minister of Health have reason to suspect are capable of becoming toxic or that have been determined to be capable of becoming toxic; (h) require that, when those Ministers conduct or interpret the results of certain assessments — or conduct or interpret the results of a review of decisions of certain governments — in order to determine whether a substance is toxic or capable of becoming toxic, they consider available information on whether there is a vulnerable population in relation to the substance and on the cumulative effects that may result from exposure to the substance in combination with exposure to other substances; (i) provide that certain substances be classified as substances that pose the highest risk based on, among other things, their properties or characteristics; (j) require that those Ministers give priority to the total, partial or conditional prohibition of activities in relation to toxic substances that are specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, or to the total, partial or conditional prohibition of releases of those substances into the environment, when regulations or instruments respecting preventive or control actions in relation to those substances are developed; (k) expand certain regulation-making, information-gathering and pollution prevention powers under that Act, including by adding a reference to products that may release substances into the environment; (l) allow the risks associated with certain toxic substances to be managed by preventive or control actions taken under any other Act of Parliament, and the obligations under sections 91 and 92 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 to be the responsibility of whoever of the Minister of the Environment or the Minister of Health is best placed to fulfil them; (m) expand the powers of the Minister of the Environment to vary either the contents of a significant new activity notice with respect to a substance not on the Domestic Substances List or the contents of the List itself with respect to a substance on the List that is subject to the significant new activities provisions of that Act; (n) extend the requirement, to notify persons of the obligation to comply with the significant new activity provisions of that Act when a substance that is subject to those provisions is transferred to them, so that it applies with respect to substances on the Domestic Substances List, and authorize that Minister to limit by class the persons who are required to be notified of the obligation when a substance that is subject to those provisions is transferred to them; and (o) require that confidentiality requests made under section 313 of the Act be accompanied by reasons, and to allow the Minister of the Environment to disclose the explicit chemical or biological name of a substance or the explicit biological name of a living organism in certain circumstances. The enactment also makes related amendments to the Food and Drugs Act to enable the assessment and management of risks to the environment associated with foods, drugs, cosmetics and devices by, among other things, (a) prohibiting persons from conducting certain activities in respect of a drug unless the Minister of Health has conducted an assessment of the risks to the environment presented by certain substances contained in that drug; (b) enabling the Minister of Health to take measures in respect of the risks to the environment that a drug may present throughout its life cycle; and (c) providing the Governor in Council with supporting regulation-making authorities. Finally, the enactment repeals the Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Virtual Elimination Act.
Updated Jun 13, 202344th Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Marc Gold
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 8 February 2022, Sen. Marc Gold introduced Bill S-4, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Identification of Criminals Act and to make related amendments to other Acts (COVID-19 response and other measures) and it was given first reading. Bill S-4 amends the Criminal Code to, among other things, (a) allow for the use of electronic or other automated means for the purposes of the jury selection process; (b) expand, for the accused and offenders, the availability of remote appearances by audioconference and videoconference in certain circumstances; (c) provide for the participation of prospective jurors in the jury selection process by videoconference in certain circumstances; (d) expand the power of courts to make case management rules permitting court personnel to deal with administrative matters for accused not represented by counsel; (e) permit courts to order fingerprinting at the interim release stage and at any other stage of the criminal justice process if fingerprints could not previously have been taken for exceptional reasons; and (f) replace the existing telewarrant provisions with a process that permits a wide variety of search warrants, authorizations and orders to be applied for and issued by a means of telecommunication. The enactment makes amendments to the Criminal Code and the Identification of Criminals Act to correct minor technical errors and includes transitional provisions on the application of the amendments. It also makes related amendments to other Acts.
Updated Dec 15, 202244th Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Marc Gold
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information, Education and Research Services of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 31 March 2022, Sen. Marc Gold introduced Bill S-7, An Act to amend the Customs Act and the Preclearance Act, 2016 and it was given first reading. Bill S-7 amends the Customs Act to (a) clarify the circumstances in which border service officers may examine documents stored on personal digital devices; (b) authorize the making of regulations in respect of those examinations; and (c) update certain provisions respecting enforcement, offences and punishment. The enactment also amends the Preclearance Act, 2016 to (a) clarify the circumstances in which preclearance officers may examine, search and detain documents stored on personal digital devices; (b) authorize the making of regulations and the giving of ministerial directions in respect of those examinations, searches and detentions; and (c) update the French version of that Act in respect of a traveller’s obligation to identify themselves.
Updated Oct 20, 202244th Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Marc Gold
The Library of Parliament does not prepare Legislative Summaries for bills that implement treaties, conventions, agreements or administrative arrangements bills. The following is a short summary: On 9 June 2022, Sen. Marc Gold introduced Bill S-10, An Act to give effect to the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement, to amend the Sechelt Indian Band Self-Government Act and the Yukon First Nations Self-Government Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts (Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement Act), and it was given first reading. Part 1 enacts the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement Act and makes related and consequential amendments to other Acts. Part 2 amends the Sechelt Indian Band Self-Government Act to, among other things, (a) include certain elements typically provided for in self-government agreements; (b) specify elements that must be included in the shíshálh Nation’s constitution and set out an obligation to make publicly accessible amendments to the constitution as well as shíshálh laws and amendments to those laws; (c) take into account changes to the names of the Indigenous collective and of certain entities referred to in that Act to better align with the Indigenous language of the collective; (d) clarify that the council of the shíshálh Nation may make laws relating to child and family services; (e) specify the manner in which and the conditions under which lands in British Columbia may become shíshálh lands; (f) allow the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations to enter into an agreement with the Nation for the establishment of a shíshálh Lands Register; (g) ensure that entering into funding agreements no longer requires the approval of the Governor in Council; and (h) specify that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms applies to the Council, the shíshálh Nation Government District Council and to any administrative bodies and agencies assisting in the administration of the affairs of the Nation. It also amends transitional provisions and makes consequential amendments to other Acts. Part 3 amends the Yukon First Nations Self-Government Act to ensure that entering into funding agreements no longer requires the approval of the Governor in Council.
Updated Jun 23, 202244th Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Marc Gold
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 1 December 2021, Sen. Marc Gold introduced Bill S-3, An Act to amend the Judges Act in the Senate and it was given first reading. Bill S-3 amends the Judges Act to replace the process through which the conduct of federally appointed judges is reviewed by the Canadian Judicial Council. It establishes a new process for reviewing allegations of misconduct that are not serious enough to warrant a judge’s removal from office and makes changes to the process by which recommendations regarding removal from office can be made to the Minister of Justice. As with the provisions it replaces, this new process also applies to persons, other than judges, who are appointed under an Act of Parliament to hold office during good behaviour.
Updated Dec 15, 202144th Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Marc Gold
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 24 November 2021, Sen. Marc Gold introduced Bill S-2, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act and to make consequential and related amendments to other Acts in the Senate and it was given first reading. Bill S-2 amends the Parliament of Canada Act and makes consequential and related amendments to other Acts to, among other things, (a) change the additional annual allowances that are paid to senators who occupy certain positions so that the government’s representatives and the Opposition in the Senate are eligible for the allowances for five positions each and the three other recognized parties or parliamentary groups in the Senate with the greatest number of members are eligible for the allowances for four positions each; (b) provide that the Leader of the Government in the Senate or Government Representative in the Senate, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and the Leader or Facilitator of every other recognized party or parliamentary group in the Senate are to be consulted on the appointment of certain officers and agents of Parliament; and (c) provide that the Leader of the Government in the Senate or Government Representative in the Senate, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and the Leader or Facilitator of every other recognized party or parliamentary group in the Senate may change the membership of the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
Updated Dec 7, 202144th Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Marc Gold
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 3 November 2020, the Minister of Canadian Heritage introduced Bill C-10, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts, in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-10 amends amends the Broadcasting Act to, among other things, (a) add online undertakings — undertakings for the transmission or retransmission of programs over the Internet — as a distinct class of broadcasting undertakings; (b) update the broadcasting policy for Canada set out in section 3 of that Act by, among other things, providing that the Canadian broadcasting system should serve the needs and interests of all Canadians — including Canadians from racialized communities and Canadians of diverse ethnocultural backgrounds — and should provide opportunities for Indigenous persons, programming that reflects Indigenous cultures and that is in Indigenous languages, and programming that is accessible without barriers to persons with disabilities; (c) specify that the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (the “Commission”) must regulate and supervise the Canadian broadcasting system in a manner that (i) takes into account the different characteristics of Indigenous language broadcasting and the different conditions under which broadcasting undertakings that provide Indigenous language programming operate, (ii) is fair and equitable as between broadcasting undertakings providing similar services, (iii) facilitates the provision of programs that are accessible without barriers to persons with disabilities, and (iv) takes into account the variety of broadcasting undertakings to which that Act applies and avoids imposing obligations on a class of broadcasting undertakings if doing so will not contribute in a material manner to the implementation of the broadcasting policy; (d) amend the procedure relating to the issuance by the Governor in Council of policy directions to the Commission; (e) replace the Commission’s power to impose conditions on a licence with a power to make orders imposing conditions on the carrying on of broadcasting undertakings; (f) provide the Commission with the power to require that persons carrying on broadcasting undertakings make expenditures to support the Canadian broadcasting system; (g) authorize the Commission to provide information to the Minister responsible for that Act, the Chief Statistician of Canada and the Commissioner of Competition, and set out in that Act a process by which a person who submits certain types of information to the Commission may designate the information as confidential; (h) amend the procedure by which the Governor in Council may, under section 28 of that Act, set aside a decision of the Commission to issue, amend or renew a licence or refer such a decision back to the Commission for reconsideration and hearing; (i) specify that a person shall not carry on a broadcasting undertaking, other than an online undertaking, unless they do so in accordance with a licence or they are exempt from the requirement to hold a licence; (j) harmonize the punishments for offences under Part II of that Act and clarify that a due diligence defence applies to the existing offences set out in that Act; and (k) allow for the imposition of administrative monetary penalties for violations of certain provisions of that Act or of the Accessible Canada Act. The enactment also makes related and consequential amendments to other Acts.
Updated Jun 29, 202143rd Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Steven Guilbeault
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 19 November 2020, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change introduced Bill C-12 An Act respecting transparency and accountability in Canada's efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050 (Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-12 requires that national targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada be set, with the objective of attaining net-zero emissions by 2050. The targets are to be set by the Minister of the Environment for 2030, 2035, 2040 and 2045. In order to promote transparency and accountability in relation to meeting those targets, the enactment also (a) requires that an emissions reduction plan, a progress report and an assessment report with respect to each target be tabled in each House of Parliament; (b) provides for public participation; (c) establishes an advisory body to provide the Minister of the Environment with advice with respect to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and matters that are referred to it by the Minister; (d) requires the Minister of Finance to prepare an annual report respecting key measures that the federal public administration has taken to manage its financial risks and opportunities related to climate change; and (e) requires the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to, at least once every 5 years, examine and report on the Government of Canada’s implementation of measures aimed at mitigating climate change.
Updated Jun 29, 202143rd Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Jonathan Wilkinson
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 1 October 2020, the Minister of Justice introduced Bill C-6, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-6 amends the Criminal Code to, among other things, create the following offences: (a) causing a person to undergo conversion therapy against the person’s will; (b) causing a child to undergo conversion therapy; (c) doing anything for the purpose of removing a child from Canada with the intention that the child undergo conversion therapy outside Canada; (d) advertising an offer to provide conversion therapy; and (e) receiving a financial or other material benefit from the provision of conversion therapy. It also amends the Criminal Code to authorize courts to order that advertisements for conversion therapy be disposed of or deleted.
Updated Jun 28, 202143rd Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: David Lametti
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 3 December 2020, the Justice Minister introduced Bill C-15, An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-15 provides that the Government of Canada must take all measures necessary to ensure that the laws of Canada are consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and must prepare and implement an action plan to achieve the objectives of the Declaration.
Updated Jun 21, 202143rd Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: David Lametti
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 25 May 2021, Sen. Marc Gold introduced Bill S-5, An Act to amend the Judges Act, in the Senate and it was given first reading. Bill S-45 amends the Judges Act to replace the process through which the conduct of federally appointed judges is reviewed by the Canadian Judicial Council. It establishes a new process for reviewing allegations of misconduct that are not serious enough to warrant a judge’s removal from office and makes changes to the process by which recommendations regarding removal from office can be made to the Minister of Justice. As with the provisions it replaces, this new process also applies to persons, other than judges, who are appointed under an Act of Parliament to hold office during good behaviour.
Updated Jun 15, 202143rd Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Marc Gold
The Library of Parliament does not prepare Legislative Summaries for self-explanatory measures. The following is a short summary: On 1 December 2020, Sen. Marc Gold introduced Bill S-3, An Act to amend the Offshore Health and Safety Act, in the Senate and it was given first reading. Bill S-3 amends the Offshore Health and Safety Act to postpone the repeal of its transitional regulations.
Updated Jun 3, 202143rd Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Marc Gold
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 29 September 2020, the Minister of Canadian Heritage introduced Bill C-5, An Act to amend the Bills of Exchange Act, the Interpretation Act and the Canada Labour Code (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-5 amends certain Acts to add a new holiday, namely, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is observed on September 30.
Updated Jun 3, 202143rd Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Steven Guilbeault
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 30 April 2021, Sen. Marc Gold introduced Bill S-4, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act and to make consequential and related amendments to other Acts, in the Senate and it was given first reading. Bill S-4 amends the Parliament of Canada Act and makes consequential and related amendments to other Acts to, among other things, (a) change the additional annual allowances that are paid to senators who occupy certain positions so that the government’s representatives and the Opposition in the Senate are eligible for the allowances for five positions each and the three other recognized parties or parliamentary groups in the Senate with the greatest number of members are eligible for the allowances for four positions each; (b) provide that the Leader of the Government in the Senate or Government Representative in the Senate, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and the Leader or Facilitator of every other recognized party or parliamentary group in the Senate are to be consulted on the appointment of certain officers and agents of Parliament; and (c) provide that the Leader of the Government in the Senate or Government Representative in the Senate, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and the Leader or Facilitator of every other recognized party or parliamentary group in the Senate may change the membership of the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
Updated Jun 1, 202143rd Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Marc Gold
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 25 September 2020, the Minister of Justice introduced Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Judges Act and the Criminal Code), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-3 amends the Judges Act to restrict eligibility for judicial appointment to persons who undertake to participate in continuing education on matters related to sexual assault law and social context. It also amends the Judges Act to require that the Canadian Judicial Council report on seminars offered for the continuing education of judges on matters related to sexual assault law. Finally, it amends the Criminal Code to require that judges provide reasons for decisions in sexual assault proceedings.
Updated May 6, 202143rd Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: David Lametti
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 2 December 2020, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance introduced Bill C-14, An Act to implement certain provisions of the economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 30, 2020 and other measures (Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2020), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Part 1 amends the Income Tax Act to provide additional support to families with young children as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic progresses. It also amends the Children’s Special Allowances Act to provide a similar benefit in respect of young children under that Act. As part of the Government’s response to COVID-19, it amends the Income Tax Act to provide that an expense can qualify as a qualifying rent expense for the purposes of the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) when it becomes due rather than when it is paid, provided certain conditions are met. Part 2 amends the Canada Student Loans Act to provide that, during the period that begins on April 1, 2021 and ends on March 31, 2022, no interest is payable by a borrower on a guaranteed student loan and no amount on account of interest is required to be paid by the borrower. Part 3 amends the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act to provide that, during the period that begins on April 1, 2021 and ends on March 31, 2022, no interest is payable by a borrower on a student loan and no amount on account of interest is required to be paid by the borrower. Part 4 amends the Apprentice Loans Act to provide that, during the period that begins on April 1, 2021 and ends on March 31, 2022, no interest is payable by a borrower on an apprentice loan and no amount on account of interest is required to be paid by a borrower. Part 5 amends the Food and Drugs Act to authorize the Governor in Council to make regulations (a) requiring persons to provide information to the Minister of Health; and (b) preventing shortages of therapeutic products in Canada or alleviating those shortages or their effects, in order to protect human health. It also amends that Act to provide that any prescribed provisions of regulations made under that Act apply to food, drugs, cosmetics and devices intended for export that would otherwise be exempt from the application of that Act. Part 6 authorizes payments to be made out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (a) to the Government of Canada’s regional development agencies for the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund; (b) in respect of specified initiatives related to health; and (c) for the purpose of making income support payments under section 4 of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit Act. Part 7 amends the Borrowing Authority Act to, among other things, increase the maximum amount of certain borrowings and include certain borrowings that were previously excluded in the calculation of that amount. It also makes a related amendment to the Financial Administration Act.
Updated May 6, 202143rd Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Chrystia Freeland
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 17 November 2020, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry introduced Bill C-11, An Act to enact the Consumer Privacy Protection Act and the Personal Information and Data Protection Tribunal Act and to make consequential and related amendments to other Acts (Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2020), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Part 1 enacts the Consumer Privacy Protection Act to protect the personal information of individuals while recognizing the need of organizations to collect, use or disclose personal information in the course of commercial activities. In consequence, it repeals Part 1 of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act and changes the short title of that Act to the Electronic Documents Act. It also makes consequential and related amendments to other Acts. Part 2 enacts the Personal Information and Data Protection Tribunal Act, which establishes an administrative tribunal to hear appeals of certain decisions made by the Privacy Commissioner under the Consumer Privacy Protection Act and to impose penalties for the contravention of certain provisions of that Act. It also makes a related amendment to the Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada Act.
The Library of Parliament does not prepare Legislative Summaries for bills that implement treaties, conventions, agreements or administrative arrangements bills. The following is a short summary: On 27 October 2020, Sen. Marc Gold introduced Bill S-2, An Act to amend the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act, in the Senate and it was given first reading. Bill S-2 amends the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act by deleting the schedule to that Act and the references to that schedule in that Act, in order to avoid potential discrepancies between the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, as amended from time to time, and the portions of that Convention that are reproduced in that schedule.
Updated Feb 25, 202143rd Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Marc Gold
The Library of Parliament does not prepare Legislative Summaries for appropriation bills, ways and means bills and borrowing-authority bills. The following is a short summary: On 7 December 2020, the President of the Treasury Board introduced Bill C-16, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2021, in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-16 (Appropriation Act No. 4, 2020-21) received Royal Assent on 10 December 2020 and authorizes payments to defray certain expenses of the public service of Canada, not otherwise provided for, for the financial year ending 31 March 2021. The Act provides for the sum of $26,138,756,442 to be appropriated from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to be used the public service of Canada. The Act came into force on Royal Assent.
Updated Dec 10, 202043rd Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Jean-Yves Duclos
The Library of Parliament does not prepare Legislative Summaries for appropriation bills, ways and means bills and borrowing-authority bills. The following is a short summary: On 7 December 2020, the President of the Treasury Board introduced Bill C-17, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2021, in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-17 (Appropriation Act No. 5, 2020-21) received Royal Assent on 10 December 2020 and authorizes payments to defray certain expenses of the public service of Canada, not otherwise provided for, for the financial year ending 31 March 2021. The Act provides for the sum of $20,874,356,291 to be appropriated from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to be used the public service of Canada. The Act came into force on Royal Assent.
Updated Dec 10, 202043rd Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Jean-Yves Duclos
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 26 November 2020, the Minister of Justice introduced Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (single event sport betting), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-13 amends paragraph 207(4)(b) of the Criminal Code to make it lawful for the government of a province or territory, or a licensed person or entity, to conduct and manage in the province or territory a lottery scheme that involves betting on a race — other than a horse-race — or fight, or on a single sport event or athletic contest.
Updated Nov 26, 202043rd Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: David Lametti
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 2 November 2020, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance introduced Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy and Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-9 amends the Income Tax Act to revise the eligibility criteria, as well as the level of subsidization, under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) as part of the response to the coronavirus disease 2019. It also extends the CEWS to June 30, 2021. The enactment further amends the Income Tax Act to introduce the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) in order to support those hardest hit by the coronavirus disease 2019. This subsidy provides relief in respect of rent and interest on debt obligations incurred to acquire real property used by businesses, charities and not-for-profit organizations in the course of their businesses or other activities. The rent subsidy is effective as of September 27, 2020.
Updated Nov 19, 202043rd Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Chrystia Freeland
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 28 September 2020, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion introduced Bill C-4, An Act relating to certain measures in response to COVID-19 (COVID-19 Response Measures Act), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Part 1 enacts the Canada Recovery Benefits Act to authorize the payment of the Canada recovery benefit, the Canada recovery sickness benefit and the Canada recovery caregiving benefit to support Canada’s economic recovery in response to COVID-19. It also makes consequential amendments to the Income Tax Act and the Income Tax Regulations. Part 2 amends the Canada Labour Code to, among other things, (a) amend the reasons for which an employee is entitled to take leave related to COVID-19, and the number of weeks of that leave that an employee may take for each of those reasons; and (b) give the Governor in Council the power, until September 25, 2021, to make regulations in certain circumstances to provide that any requirements or conditions, set out in certain provisions of Part III of that Act, respecting certificates issued by a health care practitioner do not apply and to provide for alternative requirements and conditions. This Part also makes related amendments to the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act to ensure that employees may continue to take leave related to COVID-19 until September 25, 2021. Finally, it makes related amendments to regulations and contains coordinating amendments. Part 3 amends the Public Health Events of National Concern Payments Act to limit, as of October 1, 2020, the payments that may be made out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund under that Act to those in respect of specified measures related to COVID-19, up to specified amounts. It also postpones the repeal of that Act until December 31, 2020.
Updated Oct 2, 202043rd Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Carla Qualtrough
Bill C-2, An Act relating to economic recovery in response to COVID-19 (short title: COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act), was introduced in the House of Commons on 24 September 2020 by the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion. Among other aspects, the bill enacts the Canada Recovery Benefits Act, amends the Canada Labour Code in connection with the leave related to COVID-19, and re-enacts a modified Public Health Events of National Concern Payments Act. The text of Bill C-2 was incorporated into Bill C-4, An Act relating to certain measures in response to COVID-19 (short title: COVID-19 Response Measures Act). However, Bill C-4’s provisions relating to the eligibility criteria for the Canada recovery sickness benefit, and the corresponding job-protected leave of absence, are broader than those contained in Bill C-2 as they include underlying conditions, ongoing treatments or other sicknesses that would make an employee more susceptible to COVID-19. Bill C-4 received Royal Assent on 2 October 2020.
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 20 July 2020, the Minister of Finance introduced Bill C-20, An Act respecting further COVID-19 measures, in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Part 1 amends the Income Tax Act to revise the eligibility criteria for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) in order to support those employers hardest hit by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It also extends the CEWS to November 21, 2020, with the ability to extend the CEWS by regulation to no later than December 31, 2020, and provides a revised calculation of the CEWS for the fifth and subsequent qualifying periods. Finally, it makes amendments to the Income Tax Act and the Income Tax Regulations to ensure that the CEWS operates effectively. Part 2 amends the Pension Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs Act, the Children’s Special Allowances Act and the Veterans Well-being Act to authorize the disclosure of information for the purpose of the administration of a program to provide a one-time payment to persons with disabilities for reasons related to COVID-19. It also amends the Income Tax Act to authorize the use by officials, or disclosure to Government of Canada officials, of taxpayer information solely for the purpose of that one-time payment. Finally, it provides that any amount payable in relation to the administration of the program to provide that one-time payment is to be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund. Part 3 enacts the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19) which addresses the need for flexibility in relation to certain time limits and other periods that are established by or under Acts of Parliament and that are difficult or impossible to meet as a result of the exceptional circumstances produced by COVID-19. In particular, the enactment (a) suspends, for a maximum of six months, certain time limits in relation to proceedings before courts; (b) temporarily enables ministers to suspend or extend time limits and to extend other periods in relation to specified Acts and regulations for a maximum of six months; and (c) provides for the transparent exercise of the powers it confers and for Parliamentary oversight over the exercise of those powers.
Updated Jul 27, 202043rd Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Bill Morneau
The Library of Parliament does not prepare Legislative Summaries for bills that implement treaties, conventions, agreements or administrative arrangements bills. The following is a short summary: On 29 January 2020, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs introduced Bill C-4, An Act to implement the Agreement between Canada, the United States of America and the United Mexican States (Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement Implementation Act), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-4 enactment implements the Agreement between Canada, the United States of America and the United Mexican States, done at Buenos Aires on 30 November 2018, as amended by the Protocol of Amendment to that Agreement, done at Mexico City on 10 December 2019. The general provisions of the enactment set out rules of interpretation and specify that no recourse is to be taken on the basis of sections 9 to 20 or any order made under those sections, or on the basis of the provisions of the Agreement, without the consent of the Attorney General of Canada. Part 1 approves the Agreement, provides for the payment by Canada of its share of the expenditures associated with the operation of the institutional and administrative aspects of the Agreement and gives the Governor in Council the power to make orders in accordance with the Agreement. Part 2 amends certain Acts to bring them into conformity with Canada’s obligations under the Agreement. Part 3 contains the coming into force provisions.
Updated Mar 13, 202043rd Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Chrystia Freeland
The Library of Parliament does not prepare Legislative Summaries for appropriation bills, ways and means bills and borrowing-authority bills. The following is a short summary: On 13 March 2020, the President of the Treasury Board introduced Bill C-10, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2020, in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-10 (Appropriation Act No. 4, 2019-20) received Royal Assent on 13 March 2020 and authorizes payments to defray certain expenses of the public service of Canada, not otherwise provided for, for the financial year ending 31 March 2020. The Act provides for the sum of $3,793,291,722 to be appropriated from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to be used the public service of Canada. The Act came into force on Royal Assent.
Updated Mar 13, 202043rd Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Jean-Yves Duclos
The Library of Parliament does not prepare Legislative Summaries for appropriation bills, ways and means bills and borrowing-authority bills. The following is a short summary: On 13 March 2020, the President of the Treasury Board introduced Bill C-11, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2021, in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-11 (Appropriation Act No. 1, 2020-21) received Royal Assent on 13 March 2020 and authorizes payments to defray certain expenses of the public service of Canada, not otherwise provided for, for the financial year ending 31 March 2021. The Act provides for the sum of $43,908,982,917 to be appropriated from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to be used the public service of Canada. The Act came into force on Royal Assent.
Updated Mar 13, 202043rd Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Jean-Yves Duclos
The Library of Parliament does not prepare Legislative Summaries for bills that implement treaties, conventions, agreements or administrative arrangements bills. The following is a short summary: On 10 March 2020, the Minister of Foreign Affairs introduced Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act, in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-9 amends the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act by deleting the schedule to that Act and the references to that schedule in that Act, in order to avoid potential discrepancies between the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, as amended from time to time, and the portions of that Convention that are reproduced in that schedule.
Updated Mar 10, 202043rd Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: François-Philippe Champagne
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 9 March 2020, the Minister of Justice introduced Bill C-8, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-8 amends the Criminal Code to, among other things, create the following offences: (a) causing a person to undergo conversion therapy against the person’s will; (b) causing a child to undergo conversion therapy; (c) doing anything for the purpose of removing a child from Canada with the intention that the child undergo conversion therapy outside Canada; (d) advertising an offer to provide conversion therapy; and (e) receiving a financial or other material benefit from the provision of conversion therapy. It also amends the Criminal Code to authorize courts to order that advertisements for conversion therapy be disposed of or deleted.
Updated Mar 9, 202043rd Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: David Lametti
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 24 February 2020, the Minister of Justice introduced Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-7 amends the Criminal Code to, among other things, (a) repeal the provision that requires a person’s natural death be reasonably foreseeable in order for them to be eligible for medical assistance in dying; (b) specify that persons whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness are not eligible for medical assistance in dying; (c) create two sets of safeguards that must be respected before medical assistance in dying may be provided to a person, the application of which depends on whether the person’s natural death is reasonably foreseeable; (d) permit medical assistance in dying to be provided to a person who has been found eligible to receive it, whose natural death is reasonably foreseeable and who has lost the capacity to consent before medical assistance in dying is provided, on the basis of a prior agreement they entered into with the medical practitioner or nurse practitioner; and (e) permit medical assistance in dying to be provided to a person who has lost the capacity to consent to it as a result of the self-administration of a substance that was provided to them under the provisions governing medical assistance in dying in order to cause their own death.
Updated Feb 27, 202043rd Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: David Lametti
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 27 January 2020, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness introduced Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act and the Canada Border Services Agency Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-3 amends the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act to, among other things, rename the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as the Public Complaints and Review Commission. It also amends the Canada Border Services Agency Act to, among other things, grant to that Commission powers, duties and functions in relation to the Canada Border Services Agency, including the power to conduct a review of the activities of that Agency and to investigate complaints concerning the conduct of any of that Agency’s officers or employees. It also makes consequential amendments to other Acts.
Updated Feb 21, 202043rd Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Bill Blair
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 4 February 2020, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada introduced Bill C-5, An Act to amend the Judges Act and the Criminal Code, in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-5 amends the Judges Act to restrict eligibility for judicial appointment to persons who undertake to participate in continuing education on matters related to sexual assault law and social context. It also amends the Judges Act to require that the Canadian Judicial Council report on seminars offered for the continuing education of judges on matters related to sexual assault law. Finally, it amends the Criminal Code to require that judges provide reasons for decisions in sexual assault proceedings.
Updated Feb 19, 202043rd Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: David Lametti
The Library of Parliament does not prepare Legislative Summaries for appropriation bills, ways and means bills and borrowing-authority bills. The following is a short summary: On 10 December 2019, the President of the Treasury Board introduced Bill C-2, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2020, in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-2 (Appropriation Act No. 3, 2019-20) received Royal Assent on 12 December 2019 and authorizes payments to defray certain expenses of the public service of Canada, not otherwise provided for, for the financial year ending 31 March 2020. The Act provides for the sum of $4,855,257,827 to be appropriated from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to be used the public service of Canada. The Act came into force on Royal Assent.
Updated Dec 12, 201943rd Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Jean-Yves Duclos
The pre-release version of this Legislative Summary is now available. Parliamentarians and their staff can obtain a copy by submitting a request or contacting the Library of Parliament. Members of the public can obtain a copy by contacting the Information Service at the Library of Parliament at Info@parl.gc.ca. On 31 October 2017, Senator Salma Ataullahjan introduced Bill S-240, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (trafficking in human organs), in the Senate and it was given first reading. Bill S-240 amends the Criminal Code to create new offences in relation to trafficking in human organs. It also amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to provide that a permanent resident or foreign national is inadmissible to Canada if the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration is of the opinion that they have engaged in any activities relating to trafficking in human organs.
Updated May 14, 201942nd Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Salma Ataullahjan
The pre-release version of this Legislative Summary is now available. Parliamentarians and their staff can obtain a copy by submitting a request or contacting the Library of Parliament. Members of the public can obtain a copy by the contacting the Information Service at the Library of Parliament. On 22 November 2016, the Hon. Peter Harder introduced Bill S-5, An An Act to amend the Tobacco Act and the Non-smokers’ Health Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, in the Senate and it was given first reading. Part 1 of this enactment amends the Tobacco Act. In order to respond to the report of the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Health entitled Vaping: Toward a Regulatory Framework for E-Cigarettes, it amends the Act to regulate the manufacture, sale, labelling and promotion of vaping products and changes the title of the Act accordingly. It also amends certain provisions of the Act relating to tobacco products, including with respect to product standards, disclosure of product information, product sale, sending and delivery and product promotion. As well, it adds new provisions to the Act, including in respect of inspection and seizure. Part 1 also makes consequential amendments to the Food and Drugs Act and the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act. Part 2 of this enactment amends the Non-smokers’ Health Act to regulate the use of vaping products in the federal workplace and on certain modes of transportation.
Updated May 23, 201842nd Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Peter Harder
The pre-release version of this Legislative Summary is now available. Parliamentarians and their staff can obtain a copy by submitting a request or contacting the Library of Parliament. Members of the public can obtain a copy by the contacting the Information Service at the Library of Parliament. On 11 May 2016, Bill S-2, An Act to amend the Motor Vehicle Safety Act and to make a consequential amendment to another Act (Strengthening Motor Vehicle Safety for Canadians Act) was introduced in the Senate and given first reading. Bill S-2 amends the Motor Vehicle Safety Act for the purpose of strengthening the enforcement and compliance regime to further protect the safety of Canadians and to provide additional flexibility to support advanced safety technologies and other vehicle innovations. It provides the Minister of Transport with the authority to order companies to correct a defect or non-compliance and establishes a tiered penalty structure for offences committed under the Act. The enactment also makes a consequential amendment to the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada Act.
Updated Mar 1, 201842nd Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Peter Harder
The pre-release version of this Legislative Summary is now available. Parliamentarians and their staff can obtain a copy by submitting a request or contacting the Library of Parliament. Members of the public can obtain a copy by the contacting the Information Service at the Library of Parliament. On 25 October 2016, the Hon. Peter Harder introduced Bill S-3, An Act to amend the Indian Act (elimination of sex-based inequities in registration), in the Senate and it was given first reading. Bill S-3 amends the Indian Act to provide new entitlements to registration in the Indian Register in response to the decision in Descheneaux c. Canada (Procureur général) that was rendered by the Superior Court of Quebec on August 3, 2015, and to provide that the persons who become so entitled also have the right to have their name entered in a Band List maintained by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.
Updated Dec 12, 201742nd Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Peter Harder
The Library of Parliament does not prepare Legislative Summaries for bills that implement treaties, conventions, agreements or administrative arrangements bills. The following is a short summary: On 1 November 2016, the Hon. Peter Harder introduced Bill S-4, An Act to implement a Convention and an Arrangement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and to amend an Act in respect of a similar Agreement (Tax Convention and Arrangement Implementation Act, 2016), in the Senate and it was given first reading. Bill S-4 implements a convention between the Government of Canada and the Government of the State of Israel for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and an arrangement between the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. It also amends the Canada–Hong Kong Tax Agreement Act, 2013 to add to it, for greater certainty, an interpretation provision. The convention and arrangement are generally patterned on the Model Tax Convention on Income and on Capital developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The convention and arrangement have two main objectives: the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion. Once implemented, they will provide relief from taxation rules in, or related to, the Income Tax Act. Their implementation requires the enactment of this Act.
Updated Dec 15, 201642nd Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Peter Harder
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 22 October 2013, the Leader of the Government in the Senate introduced Bill S-2, An Act to amend the Statutory Instruments Act and to make consequential amendments to the Statutory Instruments Regulations (Incorporation by Reference in Regulations Act) in the Senate and it was given first reading. Bill S-2 amends the Statutory Instruments Act to provide for the express power to incorporate by reference in regulations. It imposes an obligation on regulation-making authorities to ensure that a document, index, rate or number that is incorporated by reference is accessible. It also provides that a person is not liable to be found guilty of an offence or subjected to an administrative sanction for a contravention relating to a document, index, rate or number that is incorporated by reference unless certain requirements in relation to accessibility are met. Finally, it makes consequential amendments to the Statutory Instruments Regulations.
Updated Jun 18, 201541st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Claude Carignan
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 23 October 2013, the Leader of the Government in the Senate introduced Bill S-3, An Act to amend the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act (Port State Measures Agreement Implementation Act) in the Senate and it was given first reading. Bill S-3 amends the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act to implement the Port State Measures Agreement, to prohibit the importation of fish caught and marine plants harvested in the course of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and to clarify certain powers in respect of the administration and enforcement of the Act.
Updated Jun 18, 201541st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Claude Carignan
A Legislative Summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. A pre-release version of this publication is available to parliamentarians and their staff, and can be obtained by submitting a request or contacting the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 8 April 2014, the Leader of the Government in the Senate introduced Bill S-4, An Act to amend the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act and to make a consequential amendment to another Act (Digital Privacy Act) in the Senate and it was given first reading. Bill S-4 amends the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act to, among other things (a) specify the elements of valid consent for the collection, use or disclosure of personal information; (b) permit the disclosure of personal information without the knowledge or consent of an individual for the purposes of (i) identifying an injured, ill or deceased individual and communicating with their next of kin, (ii) preventing, detecting or suppressing fraud, or (iii) protecting victims of financial abuse; (c) permit organizations, for certain purposes, to collect, use and disclose, without the knowledge or consent of an individual, personal information (i) contained in witness statements related to insurance claims, or (ii) produced by the individual in the course of their employment, business or profession; (d) permit organizations, for certain purposes, to use and disclose, without the knowledge or consent of an individual, personal information related to prospective or completed business transactions; (e) permit federal works, undertakings and businesses to collect, use and disclose personal information, without the knowledge or consent of an individual, to establish, manage or terminate their employment relationships with the individual; (f) require organizations to notify certain individuals and organizations of certain breaches of security safeguards that create a real risk of significant harm and to report them to the Privacy Commissioner; (g) require organizations to keep and maintain a record of every breach of security safeguards involving personal information under their control; (h) create offences in relation to the contravention of certain obligations respecting breaches of security safeguards; (i) extend the period within which a complainant may apply to the Federal Court for a hearing on matters related to their complaint; (j) provide that the Privacy Commissioner may, in certain circumstances, enter into a compliance agreement with an organization to ensure compliance with Part 1 of the Act; and (k) modify the information that the Privacy Commissioner may make public if he or she considers that it is in the public interest to do so.
Updated Jun 18, 201541st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Claude Carignan
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 3 June 2014, the Leader of the Government in the Senate introduced Bill S-6, An Act to amend the Yukon Environmental and Socioeconomic Assessment Act and the Nunavut Waters and Nunavut Surface Rights Tribunal Act (Yukon and Nunavut Regulatory Improvement Act) in the Senate and it was given first reading. Part 1 of Bill S-6 amends the amends the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act to provide that the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 does not apply in Yukon, to allow for the coordination of reviews of transboundary projects, to establish time limits for environmental assessments and to establish a cost recovery regime. It also amends that Act to provide for binding ministerial policy directions to the Board and the delegation of any of the Minister’s powers, duties and functions to the territorial minister, and allows for a member of the board who is participating in a screening or review to continue to act for that purpose after the expiry of their term or their removal due to a loss of residency in Yukon, until decision documents are issued. In addition, it amends that Act to clarify that a new assessment of a project is not required when an authorization is renewed or amended unless there has been any significant change to the original project. Part 2 amends the Nunavut Waters and Nunavut Surface Rights Tribunal Act to modify the maximum term of certain licences, to establish time limits with respect to the making of certain decisions, to allow for the making of arrangements relating to security, to establish a cost recovery regime, to modify the offence and penalty regime and to create an administrative monetary penalty scheme.
Updated Jun 18, 201541st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Claude Carignan
The pre-release version of this Legislative Summary is now available. Parliamentarians and their staff can obtain a copy by submitting a request or contacting the Library of Parliament. Members of the public can obtain a copy by the contacting the Information Service at the Library of Parliament. On 5 November 2014, the Leader of the Government in the Senate introduced Bill S-7, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Civil Marriage Act and the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts (Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act) in the Senate and it was given first reading. Part 1 amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to specify that a permanent resident or foreign national is inadmissible on grounds of practising polygamy in Canada. Part 2 amends the Civil Marriage Act to provide for the legal requirements for a free and enlightened consent to marriage and for any previous marriage to be dissolved or declared null before a new marriage is contracted. Those requirements are currently provided for in the Federal Law—Civil Law Harmonization Act, No. 1 only in respect of Quebec and under the common law in the other provinces. It also amends the Civil Marriage Act to provide for the requirement of a minimum age of 16 years for marriage. This requirement is currently provided for in the Federal Law—Civil Law Harmonization Act, No. 1 only in respect of Quebec. Part 3 amends the Criminal Code to (a) clarify that it is an offence for an officiant to knowingly solemnize a marriage in contravention of federal law; (b) provide that it is an offence to celebrate, aid or participate in a marriage rite or ceremony knowing that one of the persons being married is doing so against their will or is under the age of 16 years; (c) provide that it is an offence to remove a child from Canada with the intention that an act be committed outside Canada that, if it were committed in Canada, would constitute the offence of celebrating, aiding or participating in a marriage rite or ceremony knowing that the child is doing so against their will or is under the age of 16 years; (d) provide that a judge may order a person to enter into a recognizance with conditions to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for the purpose of preventing the person from committing an offence relating to the marriage of a person against their will or the marriage of a person under the age of 16 years or relating to the removal of a child from Canada with the intention of committing an act that, if it were committed in Canada, would be such an offence; and (e) provide that the defence of provocation is restricted to circumstances in which the victim engaged in conduct that would constitute an indictable offence under the Criminal Code that is punishable by five years or more in prison. Finally, the enactment also makes consequential amendments to other Acts.
Updated Jun 18, 201541st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Claude Carignan
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 17 October 2013, the Minister of Health introduced Bill C-2, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Respect for Communities Act), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Currently, under s.56 of the CDSA, the Minister has the authority to grant an exemption to undertake activities using controlled substances for a medical or scientific purpose, or in the public interest. Approximately 10,000 s.56 exemption applications are received every year, most of which are for routine activities using controlled substances from licit sources, including clinical trials, methadone treatment and university research. Bill C-2 amends the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to, among other things, • create a separate exemption regime for activities involving the use of a controlled substance or precursor that is obtained in a manner not authorized under this Act; • specify the purposes for which an exemption may be granted for those activities; and • set out the information that must be submitted to the Minister of Health before the Minister may consider an application for an exemption in relation to a supervised consumption site.
Updated Jun 18, 201541st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Rona Ambrose
The pre-release version of this Legislative Summary is now available. Parliamentarians and their staff can obtain a copy by submitting a request or contacting the Library of Parliament. Members of the public can obtain a copy by the contacting the Information Service at the Library of Parliament. On 8 November 2013, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness introduced Bill C-12, An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (Drug-Free Prisons Act) in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-12 amends the Corrections and Conditional Release Act to require the Parole Board of Canada (or a provincial parole board, if applicable) to cancel parole granted to an offender if, before the offender’s release, the offender tests positive in a urinalysis, or fails or refuses to provide a urine sample, and the Board considers that the criteria for granting parole are no longer met. It also amends that Act to clarify that any conditions set by a releasing authority on an offender’s parole, statutory release or unescorted temporary absence may include conditions regarding the offender’s use of drugs or alcohol, including in cases when that use has been identified as a risk factor in the offender’s criminal behaviour.
Updated Jun 18, 201541st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Steven Blaney
A Legislative Summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. A pre-release version of this publication is available to parliamentarians and their staff, and can be obtained by submitting a request or contacting the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 9 December 2013, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food introduced Bill C-18 An Act to amend certain Acts relating to agriculture and agri-food (Agricultural Growth Act) in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-18 amends amends several Acts in order to implement various measures relating to agriculture. It amends the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act to amend certain aspects of the plant breeders’ rights granted under that Act, including the duration and scope of those rights and conditions for the protection of those rights. It also provides for exceptions to the application of those rights. It amends the Feeds Act, the Fertilizers Act, the Seeds Act, the Health of Animals Act and the Plant Protection Act to, among other things, • authorize inspectors to order that certain unlawful imports be removed from Canada or destroyed; • authorize the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to take into account information available from a review conducted by the government of a foreign state when he or she considers certain applications; • authorize the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to issue certificates setting out any information that he or she considers necessary to facilitate certain exports; and • require that a registration or a licence be obtained for conducting certain activities in respect of certain feeds, fertilizers or supplements that have been imported for sale or that are to be exported or to be sent or conveyed from one province to another. • It also amends the Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act to, among other things, increase the maximum limits of penalties that may be imposed for certain violations. It amends the Agricultural Marketing Programs Act to modernize the requirements of the advance payments program, improve its accessibility and enhance its administration and delivery. Finally, it amends the Farm Debt Mediation Act to clarify the farm debt mediation process and to facilitate the participation of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food in the mediation process when that Minister is a guarantor of a farmer’s debt.
Updated Feb 25, 201541st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Gerry Ritz
A Legislative Summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. A pre-release version of this publication is available to parliamentarians and their staff, and can be obtained by submitting a request or contacting the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 14 May 2014, the Leader of the Government in the Senate introduced Bill S-5, An Act to amend the Canada National Parks Act (Nááts’ihch’oh National Park Reserve of Canada) (Nááts’ihch’oh National Park Reserve Act) in the Senate and it was given first reading. Bill S-5 amends the Canada National Parks Act to establish Nááts’ihch’oh National Park Reserve of Canada. This new national park reserve protects 71 percent of the upper South Nahanni watershed within the Sahtu Settlement Area. Together, the Nahanni and Nááts'ihch'oh national park reserves protect about 86 percent of the entire South Nahanni watershed. Within the national park reserves, habitat for mountain woodland caribou, grizzly bears, Dall's sheep, mountain goats and Trumpeter swans will be preserved. Measuring 4,895 square kilometres, Nááts’ihch’oh National Park Reserve adjoins Nahanni National Park Reserve (which was significantly expanded in 2009) and it touches the Yukon boundary to the West.
Updated Dec 16, 201441st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Claude Carignan
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 18 October 2013, the Minister of Transport introduced Bill C-3, An Act to enact the Aviation Industry Indemnity Act, to amend the Aeronautics Act, the Canada Marine Act, the Marine Liability Act and the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 and to make consequential amendments to other Acts (Safeguarding Canada’s Seas and Skies Act), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Part 1 of Bill C-3 enacts the Aviation Industry Indemnity Act, which authorizes the Minister of Transport to undertake to indemnify certain aviation industry participants for loss, damage or liability caused by events that are commonly referred to in the insurance industry as “war risks”. The Minister may undertake to indemnify all aviation industry participants, or may specify that an undertaking applies only to specific participants or classes of participant or applies only in specific circumstances. The Act also requires that the Minister, at least once every two years, assess whether it is feasible for aviation industry participants to obtain insurance coverage for events or other similar coverage, and that the Minister report regularly to Parliament on his or her activities under the Act. Part 1 also makes consequential amendments to other Acts. Part 2 amends the Aeronautics Act to provide certain persons with powers to investigate aviation accidents or incidents involving civilians and aircraft or aeronautical installations operated by or on behalf of the Department of National Defence, the Canadian Forces or a visiting force. It also establishes privilege in respect of on-board recordings, communication records and certain statements, and permits, among other things, access to an on-board recording if certain criteria are met. Finally, it makes consequential amendments to other Acts. Part 3 amends the Canada Marine Act in relation to the effective day of the appointment of a director of a port authority. Part 4 amends the Marine Liability Act to implement the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, 2010. Among other things, it gives force of law to many provisions of the Convention, clarifies the liability of the Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund with respect to the Convention and confers powers, duties and functions on the Fund’s Administrator. Part 5 amends the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 to introduce new requirements for operators of oil handling facilities, including the requirement to notify the Minister of their operations and to submit plans to the Minister. It extends civil and criminal immunity to the agents or mandataries of response organizations engaged in response operations. It also introduces new enforcement measures for Part 8 of the Act, including by applying the administrative monetary penalties regime contained in Part 11 of that Act to Part 8.
Updated Dec 9, 201441st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Lisa Raitt
A Legislative Summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. A pre-release version of this publication is available to parliamentarians and their staff, and can be obtained by submitting a request or contacting the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 28 October 2013, the Minister of Industry introduced Bill C-8, An Act to amend the Copyright Act and the Trade-marks Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts (Combating Counterfeit Products Act), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Counterfeit trademark goods, commonly described as “knock-offs,” closely resemble the legitimate product and bear an imitation or non-genuine trademark. The retail value of counterfeit goods seized by the RCMP increased from $7.6 million in 2005 to $38 million in 2012. Bill C-8 amends the Copyright Act and the Trade-marks Act to add new civil and criminal remedies and new border measures in both Acts, in order to strengthen the enforcement of copyright and trade-mark rights and to curtail commercial activity involving infringing copies and counterfeit trade-marked goods. More specifically, it • creates new civil causes of action with respect to activities that sustain commercial activity in infringing copies and counterfeit trade-marked goods; • creates new criminal offences for trade-mark counterfeiting that are analogous to existing offences in the Copyright Act; • creates new criminal offences prohibiting the possession or export of infringing copies or counterfeit trade-marked goods, packaging or labels; • enacts new border enforcement measures enabling customs officers to detain goods that they suspect infringe copyright or trade-mark rights and allowing them to share information relating to the detained goods with rights owners who have filed a request for assistance, in order to give the rights owners a reasonable opportunity to pursue a remedy in court; • exempts the importation and exportation of copies and goods by an individual for their personal use from the application of the border measures; and • adds the offences set out in the Copyright Act and the Trade-marks Act to the list of offences set out in the Criminal Code for the investigation of which police may seek judicial authorization to use a wiretap. The enactment also amends the Trade-marks Act to, among other things, expand the scope of what can be registered as a trade-mark, allow the Registrar of Trade-marks to correct errors that appear in the trade-mark register, and streamline and modernize the trade-mark application and opposition process.
Updated Dec 9, 201441st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: James Moore
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 20 November 2013, the Minister of Justice introduced Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Canada Evidence Act, the Competition Act and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act (Canadians from Online Crime Act) in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bullying, including cyberbullying, is a form of aggression, usually among children and youth but not always. When the bullying behaviour occurs via electronic means, it is often referred to as cyberbullying. More recently, a new form of cyberbullying has emerged that is not covered by the criminal law. It involves the distribution of intimate (sexual) images without the consent of the person depicted in the image. Bill C-13 amends the Criminal Code to provide for, among other things: • a new offence of non-consensual distribution of intimate images as well as complementary amendments to authorize the removal of such images from the Internet and the recovery of expenses incurred to obtain the removal of such images, the forfeiture of property used in the commission of the offence, a recognizance order to be issued to prevent the distribution of such images and the restriction of the use of a computer or the Internet by a convicted offender; • the power to make preservation demands and orders to compel the preservation of electronic evidence; • new production orders to compel the production of data relating to the transmission of communications and the location of transactions, individuals or things; • a warrant that will extend the current investigative power for data associated with telephones to transmission data relating to all means of telecommunications; • warrants that will enable the tracking of transactions, individuals and things and that are subject to legal thresholds appropriate to the interests at stake; and • a streamlined process of obtaining warrants and orders related to an authorization to intercept private communications by ensuring that those warrants and orders can be issued by a judge who issues the authorization and by specifying that all documents relating to a request for a related warrant or order are automatically subject to the same rules respecting confidentiality as the request for authorization. • The enactment amends the Canada Evidence Act to ensure that the spouse is a competent and compellable witness for the prosecution with respect to the new offence of non-consensual distribution of intimate images. It also amends the Competition Act to make applicable, for the purpose of enforcing certain provisions of that Act, the new provisions being added to the Criminal Code respecting demands and orders for the preservation of computer data and orders for the production of documents relating to the transmission of communications or financial data. It also modernizes the provisions of the Act relating to electronic evidence and provides for more effective enforcement in a technologically advanced environment. Lastly, it amends the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act to make some of the new investigative powers being added to the Criminal Code available to Canadian authorities executing incoming requests for assistance and to allow the Commissioner of Competition to execute search warrants under the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act.
Updated Dec 9, 201441st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Peter Gordon MacKay
On 25 October 2013, the Minister of Foreign Affairs introduced Bill C-6, An Act to implement the Convention on Cluster Munitions (Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act) in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-6 implements Canada’s commitments under the Convention on Cluster Munitions. In particular, it establishes prohibitions and offences for certain activities involving cluster munitions, explosive submunitions and explosive bomblets.
Updated Nov 6, 201441st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: John Baird
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 5 October 2013, the Minister of Justice introduced Bill C-10, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (trafficking in contraband tobacco) (Tackling Contraband Tobacco Act) in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-10 amends the Criminal Code to create a new offence of trafficking in contraband tobacco and to provide for minimum penalties of imprisonment for repeat offenders. Trafficking would involve any of the following actions: • sale; • offer for sale; • possession for the purpose of sale; • transportation; • distribution; or • delivery. Under Bill C-10, the maximum penalty for a first offence would be 6 months imprisonment on summary conviction and 5 years imprisonment if prosecuted on indictment. It also proposes mandatory minimum penalties of imprisonment for repeat offenders where a high volume of tobacco products is involved. The threshold to be considered “high volume” would be 10,000 cigarettes or 10 kilograms of other tobacco products. The mandatory minimum penalties on indictment would be as follows: • 90 days incarceration on a second conviction; • 180 days incarceration on third conviction; and • 2 years less a day on subsequent convictions.
Updated Nov 6, 201441st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Peter Gordon MacKay
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 6 December 2013, the Minister of Health introduced Bill C-17, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (Protecting Canadians from Unsafe Drugs Act (Vanessa’s Law)) in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-17 amends the Food and Drugs Act regarding therapeutic products in order to improve safety by introducing measures to, among other things, • strengthen safety oversight of therapeutic products throughout their life cycle; and • improve reporting by certain health care institutions of serious adverse drug reactions and medical device incidents that involve therapeutic products.
Updated Nov 6, 201441st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Rona Ambrose
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 24 October 2013, the Minister of Natural Resources introduced Bill C-5, An Act to amend the Canada-Newfoundland Atlantic Accord Implementation Act, the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act and other Acts and to provide for certain other measures (Offshore Health and Safety Act), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. This enactment amends the Canada-Newfoundland Atlantic Accord Implementation Act and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act (the “Accord Acts”) in order to increase the level of safety and transparency of offshore petroleum activities. The main purpose of the amendments is to establish a new occupational health and safety regime in the offshore areas. In addition, it amends the Accord Acts to, most notably, • ensure that occupational health and safety officers, special officers, conservation officers and operational safety officers have the same powers for the administration and enforcement of the Accord Acts; • clarify that the new occupational health and safety regime applies to the transportation of persons who are in transit to, from or between workplaces in the offshore areas; • require that any occupational health and safety regulations that apply to the transportation of persons who are in transit to, from or between workplaces in the offshore areas be made on the recommendation of the Minister of Transport; and • authorize each of the Canada–Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board to publicly disclose information related to occupational health and safety if it considers it to be in the public interest. It amends the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act to enable health and safety officers to get privileged information and to enable employers subject to the Accord Acts to apply to the Chief Screening Officer for exemptions from disclosure requirements in the same manner as employers under the Canada Labour Code. It also amends the Access to Information Act to prohibit the disclosure of certain information. It amends the Canada Labour Code to closely follow the Accord Acts with respect to the time frame for the institution of proceedings, and with respect to prohibitions on the sharing of information and on testimony. It also amends certain Acts and regulations to make terminological changes that are required as a result of certain amendments to the Canada-Newfoundland Atlantic Accord Implementation Act.
Updated Jun 19, 201441st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Greg Rickford
The pre-release version of this Legislative Summary is now available. Parliamentarians and their staff can obtain a copy by submitting a request or contacting the Library of Parliament. Members of the public can obtain a copy by the contacting the Information Service at the Library of Parliament.
Updated Jun 12, 201441st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Maria Chaput
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 29 October 2013, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development introduced Bill C-9, An Act respecting the election and term of office of chiefs and councillors of certain First Nations and the composition of council of those First Nations (First Nations Elections Act), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. In October 2010, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development and the leaders of these organizations launched a national engagement exercise on electoral reform. These organizations met with other First Nation leaders across the country between October 2010 and March 2011 to present their recommendations and seek advice on improving the election process for First Nations. Bill C-9 establishes a regime, alternative to the one under the Indian Act, to govern the election of chiefs and councillors of certain First Nations. Among other things it • provides that chiefs and councillors hold office for four years; • provides that the election of a chief or councillor may be contested before a competent court; and • sets out offences and penalties in relation to the election of a chief or councillor. This enactment also allows First Nations to withdraw from the regime by adopting a written code that sets out the rules regarding the election of the members of their council.
Updated Apr 10, 201441st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Bernard Valcourt
A Legislative Summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. A pre-release version of this publication is available to parliamentarians and their staff, and can be obtained by submitting a request or contacting the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 26 November 2013, the Minister of Justice introduced Bill C-14, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the National Defence Act (mental disorder) (Not Criminally Responsible Reform Act) in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. The Criminal Code mental disorder regime applies to a very small percentage of accused persons. A person found unfit to stand trial is referred to a provincial or territorial Review Board, which decides on a course of action. Under the current law, a Review Board can make one of three possible decisions: • If the person does not pose a significant threat to public safety, an absolute discharge (only available for a person found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder); • A conditional discharge; or, • Detention in custody in a hospital. Bill C-14 amends the mental disorder regime in the Criminal Code and the National Defence Act to specify that the paramount consideration in the decision-making process is the safety of the public and to create a scheme for finding that certain persons who have been found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder are high-risk accused. It also enhances the involvement of victims in the regime and makes procedural and technical amendments.
Updated Apr 10, 201441st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Peter Gordon MacKay
The Library of Parliament does not prepare Legislative Summaries for bills that implement treaties, conventions, agreements or administrative arrangements bills. The following is a short summary: On 3 December 2013, the Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs introduced Bill C-15, An Act to replace the Northwest Territories Act to implement certain provisions of the Northwest Territories Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement and to repeal or make amendments to the Territorial Lands Act, the Northwest Territories Waters Act, the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act, other Acts and certain orders and regulations (Northwest Territories Devolution Act) in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Currently, the government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) makes decisions on behalf of its residents similar to a provincial government, with the exception of the administration and management of public lands, water resources, mineral resources, and oil and gas management. The NWT Devolution Agreement transfers these responsibilities from the government of Canada to the GNWT. Part 1 of Bill C-15 enacts the Northwest Territories Act and implements certain provisions of the Northwest Territories Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement. It also amends and repeals other Acts and certain orders and regulations. Part 2 amends the Territorial Lands Act to modify the offence and penalty regime and create an administrative monetary penalty scheme. It also adds inspection powers. Part 3 amends the Northwest Territories Waters Act to make changes to the jurisdiction and structure of the Inuvialuit Water Board, to add a regulation-making authority for cost recovery, to establish time limits with respect to the making of certain decisions, to modify the offence and penalty regime, to create an administrative monetary penalty scheme and to make other changes. Part 4 amends the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act to consolidate the structure of the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board, to establish time limits for environmental assessments and reviews and to expand ministerial policy direction to land use planning boards and the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board. This Part also amends the administration and enforcement provisions of Part 3 of that Act and establishes an administration and enforcement scheme in Part 5 of that Act, including the introduction of enforceable development certificates. Moreover, it adds an administrative monetary penalty scheme to the Act. Lastly, this Part provides for the establishment of regional studies and regulation-making authorities for, among other things, consultation with aboriginal peoples and for cost recovery and incorporates into that Act the water licensing scheme from the Northwest Territories Waters Act as part of the implementation of the Northwest Territories Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement.
Updated Mar 25, 201441st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Bernard Valcourt
The Library of Parliament does not prepare Legislative Summaries for bills that implement treaties, conventions, agreements or administrative arrangements bills. The following is a short summary: On 5 December 2013, the Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs introduced Bill C-16, An Act to give effect to the Governance Agreement with Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and to make consequential amendments to other Acts (Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Governance Act) in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, the Government of Canada and the Government of Manitoba have concluded a self-government agreement. As the next steps, federal and then provincial legislation is needed to bring the agreements into effect. Bill C-16 gives effect to the Governance Agreement with Sioux Valley Dakota Nation. It also makes consequential amendments to other Acts.
Updated Mar 4, 201441st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Bernard Valcourt
A Legislative Summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. A pre-release version of this publication is available to parliamentarians and their staff, and can be obtained by submitting a request or contacting the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 22 October 2013, the Minister of Finance introduced Bill C-4, A second act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 21, 2013 and other measures (Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 2), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Part 1 implements certain income tax measures proposed in the March 21, 2013 budget. Among other things, it • increases the lifetime capital gains exemption to $800,000 and indexes the new limit to inflation; • streamlines the process for pension plan administrators to refund a contribution made to a Registered Pension Plan as a result of a reasonable error; • extends the reassessment period for reportable tax avoidance transactions and tax shelters when information returns are not filed properly and on time; • phases out the federal Labour-Sponsored Venture Capital Corporations tax credit; • ensures that derivative transactions cannot be used to convert fully taxable ordinary income into capital gains taxed at a lower rate; • ensures that the tax consequences of disposing of a property cannot be avoided by entering into transactions that are economically equivalent to a disposition of the property; • ensures that the tax attributes of trusts cannot be inappropriately transferred among arm’s length persons; • responds to the Sommerer decision to restore the intended tax treatment with respect to non-resident trusts; • expands eligibility for the accelerated capital cost allowance for clean energy generation equipment to include a broader range of biogas production equipment and equipment used to treat gases from waste; • imposes a penalty in instances where information on tax preparers and billing arrangements is missing, incomplete or inaccurate on Scientific Research and Experimental Development tax incentive program claim forms; • phases out the accelerated capital cost allowance for capital assets used in new mines and certain mine expansions, and reduces the deduction rate for pre-production mine development expenses; • adjusts the five-year phase-out of the additional deduction for credit unions; • eliminates unintended tax benefits in respect of two types of leveraged life insurance arrangements; • clarifies the restricted farm loss rules and increases the restricted farm loss deduction limit; • enhances corporate anti-loss trading rules to address planning that avoids those rules; • extends, in certain circumstances, the reassessment period for taxpayers who have failed to correctly report income from a specified foreign property on their annual income tax return; • extends the application of Canada’s thin capitalization rules to Canadian resident trusts and non-resident entities; and • introduces new administrative monetary penalties and criminal offences to deter the use, possession, sale and development of electronic suppression of sales software that is designed to falsify records for the purpose of tax evasion. Part 1 also implements other selected income tax measures. Most notably, it (a) implements measures announced on July 25, 2012, including measures that • relate to the taxation of specified investment flow-through entities, real estate investment trusts and publicly-traded corporations, and • respond to the Lewin decision; (b) implements measures announced on December 21, 2012, including measures that relate to • the computation of adjusted taxable income for the purposes of the alternative minimum tax, • the prohibited investment and advantage rules for registered plans, and • the corporate reorganization rules; and (c) clarifies that information may be provided to the Department of Employment and Social Development for a program for temporary foreign workers. Part 2 implements certain goods and services tax and harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) measures proposed in the March 21, 2013 budget by • introducing new administrative monetary penalties and criminal offences to deter the use, possession, sale and development of electronic suppression of sales software that is designed to falsify records for the purpose of tax evasion; and • clarifying that the GST/HST provision, exempting supplies by a public sector body (PSB) of a property or a service if all or substantially all of the supplies of the property or service by the PSB are made for free, does not apply to supplies of paid parking. Part 3 enacts and amends several Acts in order to implement various measures. Division 1 of Part 3 amends the Employment Insurance Act to extend and expand a temporary measure to refund a portion of employer premiums for small businesses. It also amends that Act to modify the Employment Insurance premium rate-setting mechanism, including setting the 2015 and 2016 rates and requiring that the rate be set on a seven-year break-even basis by the Canada Employment Insurance Commission beginning with the 2017 rate. The Division repeals the Canada Employment Insurance Financing Board Act and related provisions of other Acts. Lastly, it makes technical amendments to the Employment Insurance (Fishing) Regulations. Division 2 of Part 3 amends the Trust and Loan Companies Act, the Bank Act and the Insurance Companies Act to remove the prohibition against federal and provincial Crown agents and federal and provincial government employees being directors of a federally regulated financial institution. It also amends the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Act and the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Act to remove the obligation of certain persons to give the Minister of Finance notice of their intent to borrow money from a federally regulated financial institution or from a corporation that has deposit insurance under the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act. Division 3 of Part 3 amends the Trust and Loan Companies Act, the Bank Act, the Insurance Companies Act and the Cooperative Credit Associations Act to clarify the rules for certain indirect acquisitions of foreign financial institutions. Division 4 of Part 3 amends the Criminal Code to update the definition “passport” in subsection 57(5) and also amends the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act to update the reference to the Minister in paragraph 11(1)(a). Division 5 of Part 3 amends the Canada Labour Code to amend the definition of “danger” in subsection 122(1), to modify the refusal to work process, to remove all references to health and safety officers and to confer on the Minister of Labour their powers, duties and functions. It also makes consequential amendments to the National Energy Board Act, the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act and the Non-smokers’ Health Act. Division 6 of Part 3 amends the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development Act to change the name of the Department to the Department of Employment and Social Development and to reflect that name change in the title of that Act and of its responsible Minister. In addition, the Division amends Part 6 of that Act to extend that Minister’s powers with respect to certain Acts, programs and activities and to allow the Minister of Labour to administer or enforce electronically the Canada Labour Code. The Division also adds the title of a Minister to the Salaries Act. Finally, it makes consequential amendments to several other Acts to reflect the name change. Division 7 of Part 3 authorizes Her Majesty in right of Canada to hold, dispose of or otherwise deal with the Dominion Coal Blocks in any manner. Division 8 of Part 3 authorizes the amalgamation of four Crown corporations that own or operate international bridges and gives the resulting amalgamated corporation certain powers. It also makes consequential amendments and repeals certain Acts. Division 9 of Part 3 amends the Financial Administration Act to provide that agent corporations designated by the Minister of Finance may, subject to any terms and conditions of the designation, pledge any securities or cash that they hold, or give deposits, as security for the payment or performance of obligations arising out of derivatives that they enter into or guarantee for the management of financial risks. Division 10 of Part 3 amends the National Research Council Act to reduce the number of members of the National Research Council of Canada and to create the position of Chairperson of the Council. Division 11 of Part 3 amends the Veterans Review and Appeal Board Act to reduce the permanent number of members of the Veterans Review and Appeal Board. Division 12 of Part 3 amends the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act to allow for the appointment of up to three directors who are not residents of Canada. Division 13 of Part 3 amends the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act to extend to the whole Act the protection for communications that are subject to solicitor-client privilege and to provide that information disclosed by the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada under subsection 65(1) of that Act may be used by a law enforcement agency referred to in that subsection only as evidence of a contravention of Part 1 of that Act. Division 14 of Part 3 enacts the Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts Fund Act, which establishes the Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts Fund. The Division also repeals the Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts Act. Division 15 of Part 3 amends the Conflict of Interest Act to allow the Governor in Council to designate a person or class of persons as public office holders and to designate a person who is a public office holder or a class of persons who are public office holders as reporting public office holders, for the purposes of that Act. Division 16 of Part 3 amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to establish a new regime that provides that a foreign national who wishes to apply for permanent residence as a member of a certain economic class may do so only if they have submitted an expression of interest to the Minister and have subsequently been issued an invitation to apply. Division 17 of Part 3 modernizes the collective bargaining and recourse systems provided by the Public Service Labour Relations Act regime. It amends the dispute resolution process for collective bargaining by removing the choice of dispute resolution method and substituting conciliation, which involves the possibility of the use of a strike as the method by which the parties may resolve impasses. In those cases where 80% or more of the positions in a bargaining unit are considered necessary for providing an essential service, the dispute resolution mechanism is to be arbitration. The collective bargaining process is further streamlined through amendments to the provision dealing with essential services. The employer has the exclusive right to determine that a service is essential and the numbers of positions that will be required to provide that service. Bargaining agents are to be consulted as part of the essential services process. The collective bargaining process is also amended by extending the timeframe within which a notice to bargain collectively may be given before the expiry of a collective agreement or arbitral award. In addition, the Division amends the factors that arbitration boards and public interest commissions must take into account when making awards or reports, respectively. It also amends the processes for the making of those awards and reports and removes the compensation analysis and research function from the mandate of the Public Service Labour Relations Board. The Division streamlines the recourse process set out for grievances and complaints in Part 2 of the Public Service Labour Relations Act and for staffing complaints under the Public Service Employment Act. The Division also establishes a single forum for employees to challenge decisions relating to discrimination in the public service. Grievances and complaints are to be heard by the Public Service Labour Relations Board under the grievance process set out in the Public Service Labour Relations Act. The process for the review of those grievances or complaints is to be the same as the one that currently exists under the Canadian Human Rights Act. However, grievances and complaints related specifically to staffing complaints are to be heard by the Public Service Staffing Tribunal. Grievances relating to discrimination are required to be submitted within one year or any longer period that the Public Service Labour Relations Board considers appropriate, to reflect what currently exists under the Canadian Human Rights Act. Furthermore, the Division amends the grievance recourse process in several ways. With the sole exception of grievances relating to issues of discrimination, employees included in a bargaining unit may only present or refer an individual grievance to adjudication if they have the approval of and are represented by their bargaining agent. Also, the process as it relates to policy grievances is streamlined, including by defining more clearly an adjudicator’s remedial power when dealing with a policy grievance. In addition, the Division provides for a clearer apportionment of the expenses of adjudication relating to the interpretation of a collective agreement. They are to be borne in equal parts by the employer and the bargaining agent. If a grievance relates to a deputy head’s direct authority, such as with respect to discipline, termination of employment or demotion, the expenses are to be borne in equal parts by the deputy head and the bargaining agent. The expenses of adjudication for employees who are not represented by a bargaining agent are to be borne by the Public Service Labour Relations Board. Finally, the Division amends the recourse process for staffing complaints under the Public Service Employment Act by ensuring that the right to complain is triggered only in situations when more than one employee participates in an exercise to select employees that are to be laid off. And, candidates who are found not to meet the qualifications set by a deputy head may only complain with respect to their own assessment. Division 18 of Part 3 establishes the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board to replace the Public Service Labour Relations Board and the Public Service Staffing Tribunal. The new Board will deal with matters that were previously dealt with by those former Boards under the Public Service Labour Relations Act and the Public Service Employment Act, respectively, which will permit proceedings under those Acts to be consolidated. Division 19 of Part 3 adds declaratory provisions to the Supreme Court Act, respecting the criteria for appointing judges to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Updated Dec 12, 201341st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Jim Flaherty
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 25 october 2013, the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages introduced Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Museums Act in order to establish the Canadian Museum of History and to make consequential amendments to other Acts (Canadian Museum of History Act), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-7 amends the Museums Act to establish a corporation called the Canadian Museum of History that replaces the Canadian Museum of Civilization. It also sets out the purpose, capacity and powers of the Canadian Museum of History and makes consequential amendments to other Acts.
Updated Dec 12, 201341st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Shelly Glover
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 7 November 2013, the Minister of Veteran Affairs introduced Bill C-11, An Act to amend the Public Service Employment Act (priority hiring for injured veterans) (Priority Hiring for Injured Veterans Act) in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Every year, many military members transition out of the Canadian Armed Forces. For those Canadian Armed Forces members who cannot deploy and meet the demands of operations, finding meaningful employment is a key factor in making a successful transition to civilian life. Bill C-11 amends the Public Service Employment Act to establish a right of appointment, in priority to all other persons, for certain members of the Canadian Forces who are released for medical reasons that are attributable to service.
Updated Nov 20, 201341st Parliament, 2nd SessionSponsor: Erin O'Toole
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 28 September 2011, the Leader of the Government in the Senate introduced Bill S-2, An Act respecting family homes situated on First Nation reserves and matrimonial interests or rights in or to structures and lands situated on those reserves (Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act), in the Senate and it was given first reading. The bill addresses issues relating to family real property on reserves by providing that a First Nation has the power to enact laws relating to “the use, occupation and possession of family homes on its reserves and the division of the value of any interests or rights held by spouses or common-law partners in or to structures and lands on its reserves” (clause 7(1)). Where a First Nation does not have such laws in force, whether established under the bill, under the First Nations Land Management Act, or under a self-government agreement, provisional federal rules established in the bill will apply.
Updated Jun 19, 201341st Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Marjory LeBreton
A legislative summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 29 February 2012, the Leader of the Government in the Senate introduced Bill S-8, An Act respecting the safety of drinking water on First Nation lands (Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act) in the Senate and it was given first reading. Bill S-8 addresses health and safety issues on reserve lands and certain other lands by providing for regulations to govern drinking water and waste water treatment in first nations communities. Among other things, it • provides First Nation communities with drinking water and wastewater standards comparable to provincial or territorial standards off reserves; • establishes a common base to evaluate the effectiveness of the operation, design and maintenance of water and wastewater systems; and • allows for regional flexibility, as federal regulations could vary from province to province and territory to territory.
Updated Jun 19, 201341st Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Marjory LeBreton
A Legislative Summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. A pre-release version of this publication is available to parliamentarians and their staff, and can be obtained by submitting a request or contacting the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 5 February 2013, the Leader of the Government in the Senate introduced Bill S-14, An Act to amend the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (Fighting Foreign Corruption Act) in the Senate and it was given first reading. The Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (CFPOA) makes it a criminal offence in Canada for persons or companies to bribe foreign public officials to obtain or retain an advantage in the course of international business. Bill S-14 amends the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act to • increase the maximum sentence of imprisonment applicable to the offence of bribing a foreign public official; • eliminate the facilitation payments exception to that offence; • create a new offence relating to books and records and the bribing of a foreign public official or the hiding of that bribery; and • establish nationality jurisdiction that would apply to all of the offences under the Act.
Updated Jun 19, 201341st Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Marjory LeBreton
A Legislative Summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. A pre-release version of this publication is available to parliamentarians and their staff, and can be obtained by submitting a request or contacting the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive summary is available. On 12 February 2013, the Leader of the Government in the Senate introduced Bill S-15, An Act to amend the Canada National Parks Act and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act and to make consequential amendments to the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (Expansion and Conservation of Canada’s National Parks Act) in the Senate and it was given first reading. Bill S-15 amends the Canada National Parks Act to provide for the establishment of Sable Island National Park Reserve of Canada, to amend commercial zoning in the Community of Field in Yoho National Park of Canada and to reconfigure the leasehold boundary of the Marmot Ski Basin Area in Jasper National Park of Canada. Part 1 of this enactment amends the Canada National Parks Act to create Sable Island National Park Reserve of Canada. It also amends the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act to prohibit drilling for petroleum in Sable Island National Park Reserve of Canada or within one nautical mile seaward of Sable Island’s low-water mark, to restrict surface access rights provided for under that Act and to provide for the issuance of licences and authorizations with respect to activities that may be carried out in Sable Island National Park Reserve of Canada. Finally, it makes consequential amendments to the Canada Shipping Act, 2001. Part 2 amends the Canada National Parks Act to provide that the dedication of the national parks of Canada to the people of Canada is subject to any Act of Parliament. It also amends the description of the commercial zones for the Community of Field in Yoho National Park of Canada in Schedule 4 to that Act and of the leasehold boundary of the Marmot Basin Ski Area in Jasper National Park of Canada in Schedule 5 to that Act.
Updated Jun 19, 201341st Parliament, 1st SessionSponsor: Marjory LeBreton