Bill C-15 explained in plain English

This document records a sitting of the House of Commons on October 7, 2011. It includes the "Introduction and first reading debate record" for Bill C-15, "An Act to amend the National Defence Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts." The sitting also featured various "Statements by Members" on diverse topics, followed by "Oral Questions" where members questioned ministers on a range of government activities and policies. The "Routine Proceedings" section notes the introduction of Bill C-15 and another bill, "An Act to amend the National Defence Act (military judges)". This record reflects the procedural steps of introducing legislation and engaging in debate and questioning within the House.

This record details a debate in the House of Commons on November 4, 2011, concerning the "Security of Tenure of Military Judges Act" (Bill C-16). The debate focused on ensuring the independence of military judges, a requirement stemming from a court ruling that found the existing five-year renewable appointment system unconstitutional. Members from various parties discussed the urgency of the matter, the historical attempts to amend the National Defence Act, and the potential consequences if the bill did not pass by a December 2 deadline. There was also a procedural dispute regarding the government's handling of parliamentary business and the exclusion of certain members from making statements on Remembrance Day, which impacted the progress of the bill.

During the House of Commons second reading debate on Bill C-16, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence spoke in support of the bill, highlighting its necessity for ensuring the proper functioning and independence of the military justice system. He explained that the bill addresses a recent court ruling that found the current five-year renewable appointment for military judges unconstitutional, requiring changes to provide them with security of tenure. The debate also touched upon the procedural issues that arose earlier in the day regarding the potential for expedited passage of the bill, with members from opposition parties expressing concern over how the government's actions had impacted the process.

This artifact is a record of a debate in the House of Commons on March 29, 2012, during the second reading stage of Bill C-15, An Act to amend the National Defence Act. The debate focused on various aspects of the bill, with members of Parliament from different parties expressing their views and concerns. Several members raised issues regarding the military justice system, including the application of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to military personnel, the fairness of summary trials, and the need for civilian oversight in grievance procedures. There was also discussion about the potential for criminal records resulting from military disciplinary actions and their impact on veterans' reintegration into civilian life. The debate also touched upon the government's approach to trade agreements, with a focus on the Canada-Panama free trade agreement (Bill C-24), and concerns were raised about tax havens, labour rights, and environmental standards. Additionally, the sitting included routine proceedings, statements by members on various topics, and oral questions directed at the Prime Minister and various ministers on issues such as the budget, health care, national defence, and ethics.

During a House of Commons debate on Bill C-15, a member from the New Democratic Party (NDP) spoke about the importance of ensuring fairness and proper legal protections within the military justice system. They highlighted concerns about summary trials, the potential for criminal records to affect veterans' future employment, and the need for civilian oversight in grievance procedures. The member also expressed disappointment that improvements made to a previous version of the bill (Bill C-41) were not included in the current bill (Bill C-15), particularly regarding the exclusion of certain offences from resulting in a criminal record and the role of civilian oversight. Other members also contributed to the debate, with discussions focusing on specific clauses of the bill and the overall fairness of the military justice system.

During the second reading debate on Bill C-15, the **An Act to amend the National Defence Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts**, Members of Parliament debated the merits of the proposed legislation. The discussions focused on the need for reforms to the military justice system, including the application of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to military personnel, the fairness and efficiency of summary trials and grievance procedures, and the oversight of military police investigations. The bill had been before Parliament in various forms multiple times previously.

On April 5, 2012, the House of Commons held a debate during the second reading stage of Bill C-15, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts. This artifact is a record of that debate. The debate discussed the bill's provisions and its potential impact. It also touched upon other matters before the House, including questions related to national defence, budget cuts, and other legislative items.

This record details a sitting of the House of Commons on June 19, 2012. The sitting included routine proceedings, questions on the order paper, points of order, government orders where Bill C-24 (Canada-Panama Economic Growth and Prosperity Act) was debated, statements by members on various topics, and oral questions covering government legislation, accountability, ethics, federal-provincial relations, the economy, international trade, national defence, the Canada Revenue Agency, the Canadian Wheat Board, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, privacy, employment insurance, mining industry, health, the budget, fisheries and oceans, citizenship and immigration, natural resources, and points of order including privilege. It also included the commencement of private members' business, specifically the debate on Bill S-206 (World Autism Awareness Day Act) and Bill C-15 (Strengthening Military Justice in the Defence of Canada Act), and the first reading of Bill C-28 (Financial Literacy Leader Act). The proceedings concluded with the deferral of votes on several matters.

This document contains the official record (Hansard) of the House of Commons sitting on October 22, 2012. The sitting included debates on various topics, including First Nations issues, the Safe Food for Canadians Act, the Combating Terrorism Act, and the Strengthening Military Justice in the Defence of Canada Act. It also included Statements by Members on diverse subjects and Oral Questions covering foreign investment, housing, the environment, Aboriginal affairs, national defence, and government accountability. The debate also touched upon the role of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and ethics within government.

This document is a record of a sitting of the House of Commons on October 23, 2012, where Bill C-15, concerning amendments to the National Defence Act, was debated at second reading. The debate focused heavily on proposed changes to military justice, particularly concerning summary trials, grievance processes, and the Military Police Complaints Commission. Many opposition members expressed concerns that the bill did not go far enough in reforming these areas and did not fully implement recommendations from previous reports, such as the Lamer report. They argued that certain minor military offences, if convicted through summary trials, could unfairly lead to criminal records, impacting veterans' post-service lives. The debate also included other House business such as routine proceedings, statements by members, and oral questions on various government actions and policies.

On December 6, 2012, the House of Commons debated Bill C-15, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts. This stage of the process was a second reading debate, which is a discussion of the general principles of the bill. The debate involved members from various parties, including the NDP, Liberals, and Conservatives. The discussions touched on various aspects of military justice, including summary trials, the grievance procedure, and the Military Police Complaints Commission. The NDP expressed concerns that the bill, in its current form, did not go far enough in reforming these areas and that it omitted amendments made in previous parliamentary sessions. The Conservative government, represented by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, argued that the bill represented a step forward and that further improvements could be made in committee. The debate also included discussions on other matters during routine proceedings, points of order, statements by members, oral questions, and adjournment proceedings, but these are separate from the debate on Bill C-15 itself.

This document is a record of a debate that took place in the House of Commons on December 7, 2012, concerning Bill C-15. The debate focused on the second reading of the bill, which aimed to amend the National Defence Act and make consequential amendments to other acts. Members of Parliament from the New Democratic Party (NDP) expressed concerns about various aspects of the bill, particularly regarding the fairness and transparency of the military justice system. Key discussion points included the summary trial system, the impact of criminal records for minor offenses, the composition of grievance review committees, and the powers of the Military Police Complaints Commission. Other parliamentary business, including statements by members on various topics and oral questions on unrelated matters, also occurred during this sitting.

This document is a record of a House of Commons sitting on December 11, 2012. It details various proceedings, including the presentation of petitions on diverse topics, questions posed to ministers, and government orders debated. A significant portion of the sitting was dedicated to the second reading debate of Bill C-15, the Strengthening Military Justice in the Defence of Canada Act. Various Members of Parliament from different parties expressed their views on the bill, with many opposition members indicating they would vote against it at second reading due to perceived shortcomings, while others supported its principle and progression to committee.

This artifact is a record of a debate that took place in the House of Commons on December 12, 2012, regarding Bill C-15, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts. The record details various statements made by Members of Parliament, including discussions on national defence, foreign investment, and other matters unrelated to Bill C-15. Procedurally, it shows that the House was in its second reading stage for Bill C-15. The artifact includes information about the daily proceedings, such as Statements by Members, Oral Questions, Routine Proceedings, and Government Orders, which involved debates on other bills. The record also indicates that Bill C-15 was ultimately read the second time and referred to a committee.

This artifact is a record of the House of Commons proceedings on March 7, 2013. It details debates on several bills, including Bill C-48 (Technical Tax Amendments Act, 2012) and Bill S-9 (Nuclear Terrorism Act). The proceedings show significant debate and procedural maneuvers, particularly concerning the use of time allocation to limit debate on Bill C-48. For Bill S-9, there was extensive discussion about its necessity, its origins in the Senate, and its implications for Canada's international obligations and domestic security. Various members expressed support for the bill's intent to combat nuclear terrorism and implement international conventions, while also raising concerns about the lengthy delay in its introduction and its legislative process. The record also includes statements by members on various topics and oral questions directed to the Prime Minister and other ministers on a range of government actions and policies.

During the report stage debate on Bill C-15, an Act to amend the National Defence Act, Members of Parliament discussed proposed amendments related to the authority of the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff to issue instructions or guidelines concerning military police investigations. The debate primarily focused on whether senior military officials should have the power to direct investigations and the importance of police independence. Several Members expressed concerns that the proposed changes in the bill could weaken accountability and potentially allow for improper interference in investigations, referencing past incidents like the Somalia affair. The government argued that the bill aims to codify existing administrative frameworks into law and that provisions exist to ensure transparency, while also emphasizing the need for operational flexibility in military justice.

This is a record of a sitting of the House of Commons on April 29, 2013. The main business discussed was Bill C-15, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts. Members from different parties debated various aspects of the bill, including the military justice system, summary trials, the role of the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in investigations, and the impact of proposed changes on Canadian Forces members' rights and records. There was also discussion on other matters, such as the Parliamentary Budget Officer, employment insurance, immigration policies, and various government programs. The sitting also included routine proceedings, statements by members on various topics, and oral questions.

On April 30, 2013, the House of Commons debated Bill C-15, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, at its third reading stage. This debate focused on proposed changes to the military justice system, including amendments related to summary trials, criminal records for service members, and the role of the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in investigations. Several parties expressed their views on the bill, with discussions touching upon the balance between military discipline and the rights of service members, historical reviews of the military justice system, and the process of legislative amendment.

This record details a sitting of the House of Commons on May 1, 2013. The sitting included time for Statements by Members on various topics, Oral Questions where members debated issues with the Prime Minister and other ministers, Routine Proceedings which involved tabling reports and introducing bills, Government Orders where Bill C-60 (Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 1) was debated, and the conclusion of the third reading and passage of Bill C-15 (Strengthening Military Justice in the Defence of Canada Act). The sitting also included Private Members' Business, where Bill C-394 (Criminal Code) was passed, and Bill C-419 (Language Skills Act) was debated and moved towards passage. Adjournment Proceedings concluded the sitting. The provided text focuses on the debates and procedural steps within the sitting, not the full content or legal effect of the bills themselves, except for noting their procedural status.