Bill S-211 explained in plain English

This artifact documents the first reading of Bill S-211 in the Senate on January 27, 2009. The Senate proceedings included tributes, statements on international events and domestic issues, tabling of documents, adoption of motions, and the first reading of several bills. Bill S-211, titled 'An Act to require the Minister of the Environment to establish, in co-operation with the provinces, an agency with the power to identify and protect Canada's watersheds that will constitute sources of drinking water in the future,' was introduced by Senator Jerahmiel S. Grafstein and read for the first time. Following its first reading, the bill was scheduled for second reading at a later date.

This record details a Senate sitting on March 11, 2009. The primary procedural activity of note related to Bill S-211 was that its second reading debate was adjourned. This means the Senate did not proceed with a full debate or vote on the bill at this time. The rest of the sitting included Senators' Statements, routine proceedings, question period, and debate on various other bills and motions.

This Senate sitting on April 29, 2009, included debate on Bill S-211, which aims to establish an agency to identify and protect Canada's future drinking water sources. Senator Grafstein spoke in favour of the bill, highlighting the decreasing availability and increasing importance of fresh water in Canada. He emphasized the need for a national inventory of watersheds and argued that the bill provides a cost-effective way to achieve this. The debate also touched upon the history of the bill, previous committee discussions, and concerns about constitutional aspects. The sitting also included discussions on other matters such as the Canada Excellence Research Chairs program, support for military families, a landmark artificial heart transplant, hospice palliative care, community initiatives, financial system declarations, petitions regarding the seal hunt, employment insurance benefits, consultancy fees, the automotive sector, the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, airport infrastructure funding, Indigenous rights, literacy programs, and motions to authorize committee studies on national security, defence, veterans' services, and post-secondary education accessibility. Other bills discussed included those concerning tax relief for Nunavik and amendments to the Food and Drugs Act regarding clean drinking water.

This document contains the Senate debates from April 29, 2009. A significant portion of the debate focused on Bill S-211, concerning the identification and protection of Canada's future drinking water sources. The sponsor of the bill, Senator Grafstein, argued for its necessity due to diminishing water resources and the lack of a comprehensive national water policy. He highlighted concerns about pollution, decreased water levels, and the need for facts before policy. Other discussions in the Senate included various reports being tabled, questions raised during Question Period on topics like employment insurance, consultancy fees, and automotive sector job losses, and debates on other bills, including one concerning tax relief for Nunavik and another on amending the Food and Drugs Act for clean drinking water. The debate on Bill S-211 was adjourned.

On June 10, 2009, the Senate held a debate at the second reading stage for Bill S-211. Following the debate, the bill was referred to a Senate committee for further study. The debate primarily focused on tributes to Senator Willie Adams, who was retiring from the Senate after 32 years of service. There was also discussion on other matters before the Senate, including other bills and reports being tabled. The actual legislative discussion of Bill S-211 was brief, with the debate concluding and the bill being referred to committee.