Bill S-10 explained in plain English

On April 25, 2012, the Senate conducted its first reading of Bill S-10, "An Act to implement the Convention on Cluster Munitions." This involved the formal introduction of the bill and its placement on the Senate's order of business for future discussion. The rest of the sitting included various senators' statements on different topics, tabling of committee reports, question period concerning immigration, food labelling, and prison closures, and debates on other bills and inquiries. The first reading of Bill S-10 itself was a brief procedural step.

This record details a Senate sitting on May 1, 2012. It includes various procedural items such as tabling reports, first readings of bills, and notices of inquiries. A significant portion of the sitting was dedicated to a debate on Bill S-10, "An Act to implement the Convention on Cluster Munitions," which concluded with the debate being adjourned. Other debates and discussions covered topics like the International Year of Cooperatives, Asian Heritage Month, malaria prevention, the F-35 aircraft purchase, financial system matters, electoral boundaries, children's rights, poverty in New Brunswick, and euthanasia and assisted suicide. The sitting also addressed committee reports concerning conflict of interest for senators, Indigenous peoples' rights, and healthcare.

This document contains the Senate debates from May 1, 2012. A significant portion of the debate focused on Bill S-10, "An Act to implement the Convention on Cluster Munitions." During the second reading debate, Senator Suzanne Fortin-Duplessis spoke in favour of the bill, explaining how it would prohibit the use, development, production, acquisition, possession, transfer, import, or export of cluster munitions in Canada, while also allowing for continued participation in joint military operations with allies who have not signed the convention. The debate also covered other matters, including a discussion on the F-35 aircraft purchase, the financial system, electoral boundaries, the rights of the child, changes to the conflict of interest code for senators, a study on Métis rights, a review of the 2004 Health Accord, the 30th anniversary of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, poverty in New Brunswick, and the powers and responsibilities of officers of Parliament.

This record details a sitting of the Senate on May 30, 2012. A significant portion of the sitting was dedicated to the debate on Bill S-10, "An Act to implement the Convention on Cluster Munitions." During this debate, Senator Elizabeth Hubley spoke in favour of the bill's ratification but raised serious concerns about Clause 11, arguing it contained loopholes that could allow Canadian forces to be involved in the use of cluster munitions, contrary to the spirit of the convention. She proposed amendments to strengthen the bill and align it more closely with international humanitarian standards. Senator Roméo Dallaire also indicated the bill required review due to ethical, moral, and legal dilemmas for Canadian commanders. Other discussions during the sitting included topics such as the United Nations, the War of 1812, the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Chinese overseas studies, a creativity and innovation conference in Montreal, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, the cancellation of the Slots at Racetracks program in Ontario, the tabling of a report on a Canada-US inter-parliamentary meeting, concerns about shale gas production regulations, child poverty rates, the Giant Mine cleanup, and amendments to the Official Languages Act. The Senate also moved forward with other bills, including the first reading of Bill C-39 (Restoring Rail Service) and the adoption of a report on Bill S-7 (An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Canada Evidence Act and the Security of Information Act).

This artifact is a record of debate during the Senate's second reading of Bill S-10, an Act to implement the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The debate included discussions on the general role of the United Nations, historical commemorations, and various domestic issues. The main focus was on Bill S-10, with one senator expressing strong support for the bill's intent to ban cluster munitions but significant concerns about specific clauses that, in her view, weaken the bill's commitment to the convention. Other procedural items included the first reading of a bill to restore rail service and the tabling of a report on a meeting of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group. There were also questions and discussions on shale gas production, child poverty, and the Giant Mine cleanup.

This artifact details a sitting of the Senate on June 21, 2012. The sitting included Senators' Statements on National Aboriginal Day, World Refugee Day, and congratulations to a former colleague. Routine Proceedings saw various reports tabled and presented, including committee reports on budget studies, bills, and proposed regulations. Question Period addressed topics such as Statistics Canada data, development assistance levels, the status of Omar Khadr, fish habitat along the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and images in new Canadian passports. The Orders of the Day included debates on amending the Copyright Act, time allocation for Bill C-38, and the second reading of Bill S-10, An Act to implement the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which was adjourned for further debate.

On June 22, 2012, the Senate debated Bill S-10, An Act to implement the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Senator Roméo Antonius Dallaire spoke in favour of the bill at second reading, outlining the history and devastating effects of cluster munitions and the importance of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. He argued that while the bill aims to ban these weapons, its exceptions weaken its effectiveness and suggested improvements for the bill to consider during committee study. Following the debate, the bill was read a second time and referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

On November 8, 2012, the Senate met. During the sitting, the Senate's Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade presented its Seventh Report regarding Bill S-10, An Act to implement the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The committee reported the bill without amendment. The Senate also dealt with various other routine proceedings, questions, and debated several other bills.

This Senate sitting on November 20, 2012, included a variety of discussions and procedural matters. Notably, Bill S-10, An Act to implement the Convention on Cluster Munitions, was debated at third reading and the debate was adjourned. Other bills and inquiries discussed included amendments to the Criminal Code concerning elder abuse and the protection of children, amendments to the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act, and amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act. The Senate also heard statements on various topics, including the Queen's wedding anniversary, National Child Day, and figure skating achievements. Question Period covered issues such as a national strategy against violence towards children, bilingual services at Coast Guard rescue coordination centres, the status of official languages committees, and the Parliamentary Budget Officer's requests for information. The sitting concluded with several debates being adjourned.

On November 28, 2012, the Senate continued the third reading debate on Bill S-10, an Act to implement the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Senator Elizabeth Hubley spoke against the bill as it was drafted, arguing that Clause 11, which deals with military interoperability, contained loopholes that undermined the treaty's intent. She proposed amendments to tighten these exceptions, ensure Canadian forces are not complicit in the use of cluster munitions, and uphold Canada's commitment to humanitarian protection. Senator Hubley also proposed including positive obligations from the convention, such as reporting on efforts to discourage the use of cluster munitions and encouraging other states to join the convention. Senator Pierre Claude Nolin and Senator A. Raynell Andreychuk engaged in a question-and-answer session with Senator Hubley regarding her proposed amendments. Senator Roméo Antonius Dallaire also spoke, expressing strong concerns that the bill, as drafted, created an untenable ethical dilemma for Canadian soldiers operating alongside forces of countries that still use cluster munitions. He argued that the proposed amendments were necessary to maintain the spirit of the convention and Canada's international standing. The debate on Bill S-10 was then adjourned. Other proceedings included tabling of committee reports, first reading of a bill, notices of inquiry and motions, question period exchanges on various topics including firearms trafficking, job losses in Atlantic Canada, linguistic duality, and the use of military personnel at political events, and the second reading and referral of other bills to committee.

This document is a record of a Senate sitting on December 4, 2012. While the bill to implement the Convention on Cluster Munitions (Bill S-10) is mentioned as being at its third reading stage, the majority of the sitting's content pertains to other matters. These include statements by Senators paying tribute to Senator Joyce Fairbairn on her resignation, discussing violence against women, remembering Krystyna Rudko, marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and acknowledging visitors and Diamond Jubilee Medal recipients. Routine proceedings involved notices of motions concerning the Statutes Repeal Act, committees meeting during sittings, and supporting Malala Yusufzai. Question Period covered topics like on-reserve education funding, employment equity for persons with disabilities, minimum sentences, military college programs for Aboriginal youth, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The Orders of the Day list included debates and decisions on several other bills, including the First Nations Financial Transparency Bill, amendments to the Canada Labour Code and Employment Insurance Act, amendments to the Criminal Code, amendments to the Food and Drugs Act, amendments to the Official Languages Act, and amendments to the Canada National Parks Act. The sitting also included adopted motions regarding a report on clinical trials and a motion urging the release of Nasrin Sotoudeh, as well as an inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women. Notably, the motion in amendment at the third reading of Bill S-10 was negatived.