Bill S-218 explained in plain English

On March 24, 2009, the Senate continued its consideration of Bill S-218, an Act to amend the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act. The debate on the bill was adjourned, meaning it was not concluded and will continue at a later sitting. The Senate also conducted other business, including tabling reports, presenting petitions, engaging in question period, and debating other bills and inquiries. The artifact provided is a record of a Senate sitting, not the full text of the bill.

On March 24, 2009, the Senate began the second reading debate for Bill S-218, An Act to amend the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act. Senator Serge Joyal presented the bill, explaining that it aims to provide Parliament's employees with the same protections under labour relations law as public service employees. He noted that a Supreme Court of Canada decision in 2005 stated Parliament employees must use the grievance procedure under the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act, but this act does not offer the same support as the Public Service Labour Relations Act, which allows for Human Rights Commission involvement. Senator Joyal highlighted that approximately 5,000 Parliament employees would benefit from equal treatment. He also mentioned that the bill had appeared before in previous parliamentary sessions and had passed second reading and been sent to committee. Senator A. Raynell Andreychuk also spoke, noting the complementary nature of Bill S-218 and a motion she had put forward concerning the application of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms within the Senate. The debate was adjourned, and the bill was not completed at this stage. The official source text does not detail the specific legal changes or the full content of the bill, focusing instead on the procedural step of the second reading debate.

On May 26, 2009, the Senate met and engaged in various procedural activities. The day began with tributes to the late Honourable Dr. Orville Howard Phillips, a former senator. Following this, routine proceedings saw several reports tabled, including the Commissioner of Official Languages' 2008-09 Annual Report and the 2007 Annual Report of the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal. A user fees proposal for the Esquimalt Graving Dock was also tabled and referred to a committee. A bill to amend the Canada Elections Act was introduced and received first reading. Notices of motions were given regarding a study on Senate committee membership and the authorization for the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans to meet during a sitting. A notice of inquiry was given concerning the use of seal products at the 2010 Winter Olympics, and a petition was presented calling for an end to the commercial seal hunt. Question period addressed economic updates, employment insurance, official languages, bilingual signage for the 2010 Olympics, and the supply of medical radioisotopes from the Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories. The Senate also discussed the expenditures of the Prime Minister's Office and issues surrounding disenfranchised Canadian citizens. Under "Orders of the Day," several bills were at various stages of debate, including the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Bill, the Environmental Enforcement Bill, and a bill to amend the Criminal Code, all of which had their debates adjourned. The World Autism Awareness Day Bill was read a third time and passed. Debate continued on Bill S-218, An Act to amend the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act, and was adjourned. Other committee reports were adopted or motions were considered, including one concerning rural poverty and another on the accessibility of post-secondary education. The Senate also continued debate on inquiries regarding Iran's nuclear capacity and Canadian policy in the Arctic. The sitting concluded with the Senate adjourning to the following day.

On September 30, 2009, the Senate convened for a sitting that included routine proceedings, question period, and orders of the day. During routine proceedings, the Third Report of the Committee of Selection, recommending a change in membership to the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources, was adopted. The question period addressed various issues, including the accessibility of MPs to government announcements, the appointment of a Public Appointments Commissioner, French language training contracts for military personnel, bilingual services for the 2010 Winter Olympics, language services at Ste. Anne's Hospital, shellfish harvesting management, and funding for science and technology research. A point of order was raised concerning the Speaker's interruption of a senator during Senators' Statements, specifically regarding the anticipation of debate on items appearing on the Order Paper or Notice Paper. Under Orders of the Day, debate continued on Bill S-218, an Act to amend the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act, and several other bills and motions concerning topics such as the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Senate reform, settlement of Afghan nationals, preservation of Canadian heritage artifacts, scientific research, a Mediterranean free trade area, guaranteed annual income, strengthening the financial system, emergency passport services, recognizing the "Famous Five" as honorary senators, and the pre-study of Bill C-50 concerning Employment Insurance. The debate on Bill S-218 was adjourned.

This Senate sitting on November 24, 2009, included tributes to a retiring Senator, John Bryden, and discussions on various government programs and policies. A significant portion of the sitting was dedicated to the continuation of debate on several bills at their second reading stage, including Bill S-218, an Act to amend the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act. The debate on Bill S-218 was adjourned, indicating further discussion is planned.

This artifact is a record of a debate in the Senate on November 24, 2009, regarding Bill S-218, an Act to amend the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act. The debate focused on the application of human rights legislation to parliamentary employees and the specific protections offered under the current laws. Senator A. Raynell Andreychuk spoke in support of the bill's objectives, emphasizing the need to ensure employees have rights similar to other Canadians, while also considering parliamentary privilege. She suggested that the bill, along with a related motion, warrants further study by the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament. Senator Anne C. Cools raised questions about the nature of additional payments made to some senators and whether these fall under the scope of employee status.