Bill S-8 explained in plain English

This record details a Senate sitting on November 18, 2009, where Bill S-8, An Act to implement conventions and protocols concluded between Canada and Colombia, Greece and Turkey for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, was introduced and received its first reading. The sitting also included Senators' Statements on various topics, the tabling of reports, and a Question Period covering issues such as armed forces recruitment, budget cuts, privacy concerns at FINTRAC, economic stimulus funding for Aboriginal communities, and employment. The sitting concluded with debates on other matters before adjourning.

On November 24, 2009, the Senate debated Bill S-8, which aims to implement tax treaties with Colombia, Greece, and Turkey to avoid double taxation and prevent fiscal evasion. Senator Stephen Greene presented the bill at second reading, explaining that it aligns with international norms and is designed to foster certainty and stability for international trade and investment. He emphasized that the treaties will prevent double taxation and combat tax evasion by facilitating information exchange between revenue authorities. Senator Mac Harb also spoke on Bill S-243, concerning a national registry for medical devices, and Senator A. Raynell Andreychuk discussed Bill S-218, related to human rights for parliamentary employees. The Senate also addressed various other matters, including the retirement of Senator John Bryden, questions on social programs, greenhouse gas emissions, the commercial seal hunt, and post-secondary student support, as well as tabled committee reports. The debate on Bill S-8 was adjourned.

On November 24, 2009, the Senate of Canada held its second reading debate on Bill S-8, an act to implement tax conventions with Colombia, Greece, and Turkey. The debate was adjourned after Senator Stephen Greene spoke in support of the bill. The primary purpose of the bill, as explained by Senator Greene, is to avoid double taxation and prevent fiscal evasion for individuals and businesses with operations or investments in these three countries. He stated that the bill's provisions are based on international norms and do not represent significant policy changes. Senator Greene also discussed how these tax treaties contribute to Canada's economic competitiveness, especially during a global economic downturn, and highlighted the government's efforts to lower taxes and create a favorable environment for investment.

On December 9, 2009, the Senate debated the second reading of Bill S-8, an act to implement tax conventions with Colombia, Greece, and Turkey. The debate included discussions on the purpose of tax treaties to avoid double taxation and prevent fiscal evasion, and how they work to allocate taxing rights between countries. The debate also included extended tributes to Senator Jerahmiel S. Grafstein, who was retiring from the Senate. Other Senate business included the tabling of reports, notices of motions, questions on the Public Appointments Commission Secretariat and climate change policy, and debates on other bills and committee reports. The second reading of Bill S-8 was adopted, and the bill was then referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce.

This record details a Senate debate on Bill S-8, which aims to implement agreements between Canada, Colombia, Greece, and Turkey to avoid double taxation and prevent tax evasion. Senator Wilfred P. Moore spoke in support of the bill, explaining how tax treaties work to allocate taxing rights and reduce tax burdens for international trade. He used this opportunity to also critique the current government's economic policies and contrast them with those of previous Liberal governments. The debate also included tributes to Senator Jerahmiel S. Grafstein, who was retiring from the Senate.

This record details a Senate sitting on December 10, 2009. The primary procedural event related to Bill S-8 was the presentation of the Fifth Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce. The report stated that the committee had examined Bill S-8 and recommended it be reported without amendment. The Speaker then asked when the bill should be read a third time. The Government's Deputy Leader in the Senate moved that the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for third reading later that day, but this motion did not receive unanimous consent. Consequently, the bill was scheduled for third reading at the next sitting. The rest of the sitting involved other committee reports, question period discussions on various topics (such as transferred detainees, budget reductions, human rights in Afghanistan, human trafficking, museums labour dispute, and business affairs of a minister), and debates on other bills (Bill C-51, Bill C-6, and Bill C-15). A significant portion of the sitting was dedicated to tributes to Senator Lorna Milne, who was retiring.

On December 11, 2009, the Senate debated Bill S-8, an act to implement tax treaties with Colombia, Greece, and Turkey. The debate was adjourned at the third reading stage. In addition to the debate on Bill S-8, the Senate sat and addressed other business, including statements on the passing of former colleague Jean-Robert Gauthier, reports from committees on Aboriginal Peoples and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and questions raised during Question Period on topics such as national defence, health, labour relations, and climate change policy. The Senate also debated other bills, including Bill C-62 concerning provincial tax frameworks and Bill C-27 related to electronic commerce protection.

This Senate sitting on December 15, 2009, included the third reading of Bill S-8, An Act to implement conventions and protocols concluded between Canada and Colombia, Greece and Turkey for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. After debate, the bill was read a third time and passed by the Senate. The sitting also included discussions on other matters such as early childhood education, Canada-South Korea relations, the National Anti-Drug Strategy, climate change policy, transferred detainees, and various other bills. Following third reading, Bill S-8 moved on to await first reading in the House of Commons.