Bill S-215 explained in plain English
An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (Property qualifications of Senators)
Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Parliament of Canada snapshot for 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. MP vote breakdowns appear when the House of Commons publishes a recorded division export for that bill. Senate and House stage details include official debate/sitting links when LEGISinfo publishes them.
Our plain-language take, written for civic education.
Source: By PoliticalData.ca
Bill S-215 would amend the Constitution Act, 1867 to remove the requirement that Canadian Senators own a minimum amount of real and personal property in order to be appointed to or remain in the Senate.
Bill S-215 proposes to change Canada's Constitution to eliminate property ownership requirements for Canadian Senators. Currently, the Constitution requires that a person own land worth at least $4,000 in the province they represent and own real and personal property worth at least $4,000 combined in order to become a Senator or keep their Senate seat. The bill's preamble states these requirements are outdated and inconsistent with modern Canadian democratic values. If passed, the bill would: - Remove the requirement that a Senator own land worth at least $4,000 in their province - Remove the requirement that a Senator's real and personal property be worth at least $4,000 combined - Simplify the Declaration of Qualification that Senators must make (which currently lists detailed property requirements) - Keep the existing requirement that Senators maintain residence in the province they represent (with an exception for those working at the seat of government) The bill would come into force on the date it receives Royal Assent, or later if a separate constitutional amendment is proclaimed by the Governor General.
- Repeals paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 23 of the Constitution Act, 1867, which currently require Senators to own land worth at least $4,000 and to own real and personal property worth at least $4,000 combined
- Replaces paragraph (5) of section 31 of the Constitution Act, 1867 to remove references to property qualifications when describing grounds for a Senate seat becoming vacant
- Replaces the Declaration of Qualification in the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution Act, 1867 with a simplified version that no longer requires Senators to declare their property ownership
- Makes the bill operative upon receiving Royal Assent or upon a related constitutional amendment being proclaimed, whichever is later
- People who may be appointed as Senators
- Sitting Senators (may be affected if their current eligibility depends on property qualifications)
- The Governor General (who appoints Senators)
- The Senate of Canada
- Persons appointed as Senators would no longer be required to own property of a specified value in order to qualify for Senate appointment
- Persons appointed as Senators would no longer lose their Senate seat solely because they cease to own a specified amount of property
- Senators would still be required to maintain residence in the province they represent (existing requirement maintained with existing exceptions)
- The bill would come into force on the later of: (1) the date it receives Royal Assent, or (2) the date a related constitutional amendment is proclaimed by the Governor General repealing paragraph (6) of section 23 of the Constitution Act, 1867
- Bill's first reading was January 27, 2009
- The bill's commencement depends on a separate constitutional amendment being proclaimed by the Governor General (repealing paragraph 6 of section 23 of the Constitution Act, 1867). The bill text does not specify when or whether this related amendment will be made.
- The bill text does not explain why paragraph (6) of section 23 must be separately amended by constitutional proclamation rather than through the bill itself
- As of the information provided, the bill was at committee stage in the Senate in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session (2009) - it is unclear what its current status is
Removes the requirement that a Senator own freehold land worth at least $4,000 in the province for which appointed and the requirement that combined real and personal property be worth at least $4,000
Source: Section 2 of Bill S-215
Removes reference to property qualifications as a ground for losing Senate membership, keeping only the residential qualification (with its existing exception for government officials at the seat of government)
Source: Section 3 of Bill S-215
Replaces the lengthy property-related declaration with a simple statement that the person is duly qualified by law to be appointed to the Senate
Source: Section 4 of Bill S-215
Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. It is written by PoliticalData.ca for civic education, automatically checked and spot-reviewed before publishing.
Official textParliamentary Process
Bill S-215, aimed at amending the property qualifications for Senators in the Constitution Act, 1867, completed its first reading in the Senate on January 27, 2009.
This artifact describes the first reading of Bill S-215 in the Senate on January 27, 2009. The bill's purpose is to amend the Constitution Act, 1867, specifically concerning the property qualifications for Senators. Following this first reading, the bill proceeded to second reading on January 29, 2009, and was later referred to a Senate committee on March 24, 2009. The current status of the bill is 'at consideration in committee in the Senate'.
During a Senate sitting on January 27, 2009, Bill S-215 was introduced for its first reading, and senators debated the Speech from the Throne, discussing economic challenges and government initiatives.
On January 27, 2009, the Senate held a sitting where several procedural matters and debates took place. Key among these was the first reading of Bill S-215, an Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867, concerning property qualifications for senators. The sitting also included tributes, statements on international events, tabling of documents, and notices of motions regarding committee studies and changes to Senate procedures. A significant portion of the sitting involved debate on the Speech from the Throne, with various senators expressing their views on the economic situation, government actions, and appointments.
Bill S-215, concerning property qualifications for Senators, completed its second reading in the Senate on March 24, 2009, and was sent to committee.
On March 24, 2009, Bill S-215 completed its second reading stage in the Senate and was referred to a Senate committee for further consideration. The bill aims to amend the Constitution Act, 1867, specifically concerning the property qualifications for Senators. A second reading speech was delivered by Senator Tommy Banks and a response speech by Senator Consiglio Di Nino on January 29, 2009.
The Senate debated and adjourned debate on several bills, including one to amend the Constitution Act, 1867, regarding property qualifications for senators, and addressed a point of order concerning another bill.
On January 29, 2009, the Senate sat and conducted its routine business, including tabling of documents and first readings of bills. The Senate also held debates on various matters, including the Employment Insurance Act, the Constitution Act, 1867, and the Canada Elections Act. A point of order was raised regarding a bill concerning Employment Insurance, concerning whether it required a Royal Recommendation and should have originated in the House of Commons. The debate on Bill S-215, concerning property qualifications for Senators, was adjourned.
During the Senate's second reading debate on Bill S-215, the sponsor argued for removing the outdated property ownership qualification for Senators, citing its absurdity in modern times, with discussions also involving a related motion concerning Quebec's senatorial divisions.
This Senate debate record from January 29, 2009, details the sponsor's speech for Bill S-215, which aims to remove the property ownership requirement for Senators. The sponsor argued that the requirement, which dates back to 1867 and amounts to $4,000, is an outdated and absurd impediment in the 21st century, particularly as it prevents apartment dwellers from serving and imposes illogical conditions on Senators representing Quebec. The debate also touched upon a related motion concerning the specific senatorial divisions in Quebec. Other procedural matters and debates on different bills and topics occurred during this sitting.
On March 11, 2009, the Senate held a sitting that included tributes to a retiring senator, routine proceedings, question period, and continued debate on several bills, including Bill S-215 regarding Senate property qualifications.
This document is a record of a Senate sitting that took place on March 11, 2009. The sitting included tributes to Senator Michel Biron, who was retiring. It also involved routine proceedings, question period, and discussions on various orders of the day, including debates on several bills. Bill S-215, an Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (Property qualifications of Senators), was at the second reading stage and its debate was continued during this sitting.
On March 24, 2009, the Senate observed a moment of silence for soldiers, conducted routine proceedings and question period, and debated and advanced several items, including referring Bill S-215 concerning Senator property qualifications to committee.
During a Senate sitting on March 24, 2009, Senators observed a moment of silence for fallen soldiers in Afghanistan. The Senate then proceeded with various routine proceedings, including tabling reports and introducing motions. Question Period addressed foreign affairs, citizenship and immigration, and national defence. The Senate then moved to Orders of the Day, where several bills and committee reports were discussed. Notably, Bill S-215, an Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 regarding property qualifications for Senators, was read a second time and referred to committee. Other items included debates on the Main Estimates, cluster munitions, and Arctic policy, as well as motions on poverty, seal hunts, and spousal benefits for foreign service and armed forces members. The sitting concluded with the tabling of two appropriation bills.
On March 24, 2009, the Senate observed a moment of silence for fallen soldiers, heard senators' statements and questions, and debated various items including Bill S-215, which proposes to remove property qualifications for Senators and was subsequently referred to committee.
This document records the proceedings of the Senate on March 24, 2009. The Senate began with a silent tribute to soldiers who died in Afghanistan. Following this, senators made statements on various topics including the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, the state of the economy, and tributes to individuals. Routine proceedings included tabling reports and giving notices of motions. A question period addressed foreign affairs, refugee claims, the status of Omar Khadr, and Canada's commitment in Afghanistan. Under "Orders of the Day," the Senate proceeded with debate and received reports, including the second reading of Bill S-215, An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (Property qualifications of Senators), which was then referred to committee. Other bills and inquiries were also discussed or debated. The Senate adjourned at the end of the day.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Consideration in committee yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Report stage yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Third reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for First reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Second reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Consideration in committee yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Report stage yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Third reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
Debate and sitting links point to official parliamentary sources when LEGISinfo publishes them. Any plain-language discussion summaries should be generated from those official texts and reviewed before public display.
Vote Summary
This bill is still active. We only show vote counts after the legislature publishes a recorded division.
No published representative vote breakdown
This bill is still moving through the process. When a recorded division is published, representative positions can be listed here.
Official sources
Status, sponsor, votes, and timeline on this page are drawn from these official legislative sources and public records. Each summary above is attributed to its own source.
How this data is sourced