Bill S-242 explained in plain English
An Act to amend the Canadian Payments Act (debit card payment systems)
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-242 amends the Canadian Payments Act to automatically designate certain debit card payment systems including Interac and Visa and MasterCard debit card systems.
Bill S-242 is a proposed federal law that would change the Canadian Payments Act. The bill automatically designates three specific debit card payment systems: (1) the payment system operated by the Interac Association, (2) the payment systems operated in Canada for Visa debit cards, and (3) the payment systems operated in Canada for MasterCard debit cards. The bill clarifies that these automatic designations do not require the normal process for designating payment systems under the Canadian Payments Act.
- Designates the Interac Association payment system as a designated payment system under the Canadian Payments Act
- Designates Visa and MasterCard debit card payment systems operated in Canada as designated payment systems under the Canadian Payments Act
- Clarifies that these designations are automatic and do not require the normal procedures for designating payment systems under subsections (2), (3), and (5) of section 37 of the Canadian Payments Act
- Interac Association
- Visa payment system operators in Canada
- MasterCard payment system operators in Canada
- Financial institutions and merchants who use these debit card systems
- Regulators responsible for administering the Canadian Payments Act
- Debit card payment systems operated by Interac Association, Visa, and MasterCard become designated payment systems under the Canadian Payments Act, which may trigger obligations or restrictions set out elsewhere in that Act for designated systems
- The bill was given first reading on October 6, 2009
- The bill was at second reading in the Senate as of the information provided
- The bill does not explain what legal consequences or obligations follow from being a designated payment system under the Canadian Payments Act. To understand the full impact of this designation, one would need to review the rest of the Canadian Payments Act to see what rules apply to designated systems.
- The bill does not specify whether these designations apply retroactively or only prospectively.
- The bill does not define the scope of 'payment systems operated in Canada in connection with Visa and MasterCard debit cards', so the exact systems affected may be unclear.
Adds new subsections (6) and (7) to section 37. Subsection (6) automatically designates the Interac Association payment system and Visa and MasterCard debit card payment systems operated in Canada as designated payment systems. Subsection (7) clarifies that these automatic designations do not require compliance with the normal designation procedures in subsections (2), (3), and (5).
Source: Section 1 of Bill S-242
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-242, concerning amendments to the Canadian Payments Act regarding debit card payment systems, completed its first reading in the Senate on October 6, 2009, and moved to second reading shortly after.
This record describes the first reading stage of Bill S-242 in the Senate, which occurred on October 6, 2009. The bill's full title is 'An Act to amend the Canadian Payments Act (debit card payment systems)'. The record also indicates that the bill proceeded to second reading on October 8, 2009, and that debates at second reading took place on December 2, 2009, including a sponsor's speech on October 8, 2009.
Bill S-242, an Act to amend the Canadian Payments Act, received first reading in the Senate on October 6, 2009.
On October 6, 2009, the Senate proceeded with routine proceedings, which included the first reading of Bill S-242, an Act to amend the Canadian Payments Act (debit card payment systems). This bill was presented by Senator Pierrette Ringuette and was placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading two days hence. The sitting also included Question Period, debates on various other bills, and committee reports.
Bill S-242, concerning amendments to the Canadian Payments Act for debit card payment systems, was undergoing debate at the second reading stage in the Senate.
This record shows that Bill S-242, concerning amendments to the Canadian Payments Act related to debit card payment systems, was at the second reading stage in the Senate as of December 2, 2009. The last recorded activity was a debate on this bill on that date. The bill had its first reading on October 6, 2009, and its second reading, including a sponsor's speech, on October 8, 2009.
During a Senate sitting on October 8, 2009, Bill S-242 concerning debit card payment systems was introduced at second reading, but the debate was adjourned, while other legislative and procedural matters were also addressed.
This record details a sitting of the Senate on October 8, 2009, during which various procedural matters were addressed. Key among these was the second reading of Bill S-242, An Act to amend the Canadian Payments Act (debit card payment systems). The debate on this bill was adjourned. Other proceedings included tabling of reports, presentation of committee findings, and debates on other bills. Question Period addressed topics such as retirement income, fisheries, employment insurance, the global recession, video lottery terminals, and electricity production targets. Several senators also made statements on various topics.
In the Senate's second reading debate, Bill S-242 was introduced to ensure fair competition and consistent regulation for all debit card systems in Canada, including Interac, Visa Debit, and MasterCard Debit.
During the Senate's second reading debate on Bill S-242, Senator Ringuette introduced the bill, which aims to amend the Canadian Payments Act. She explained that the bill is intended to ensure that all debit card systems in Canada, including Interac, Visa Debit, and MasterCard Debit, operate under the same legal framework. Senator Ringuette expressed concern that the entry of Visa and MasterCard into the Canadian debit market, similar to their entry in the United States, could lead to increased fees for merchants and consumers, despite competition. She stated that the bill would not impede competition but would ensure it occurs on a level playing field. Senator St. Germain asked if the Competition Bureau had been consulted, and Senator Ringuette confirmed that the Bureau had investigated Visa and MasterCard regarding their credit card products and market dominance, but had not yet made a ruling. The debate was adjourned.
In a Senate sitting on December 2, 2009, debate on Bill S-242 was continued, alongside discussions on various other topics and the passage of several procedural motions.
During a Senate sitting on December 2, 2009, the debate on Bill S-242, an Act to amend the Canadian Payments Act concerning debit card payment systems, was continued. Senators also discussed other matters including tributes to a former Senate employee, violence against women, the Montreal Canadiens' 100th anniversary, Senate reform, health services in New Brunswick, the 2015 Pan American Games, and various government actions and policies. Several procedural motions were passed, including authorizing committees to meet during Senate sittings and allowing the National Finance Committee to study the subject matter of Bill C-56 in advance. A motion to adjourn the Senate until the next day was initially passed to accommodate potential back-to-work legislation, but was later discharged when that became unnecessary, and the Senate adjourned until the following afternoon.
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