Bill S-16 explained in plain English

This Senate sitting on March 5, 2013, included the first reading of Bill S-16, an Act to amend the Criminal Code concerning trafficking in contraband tobacco. The sitting also featured debates on other matters, including questions about Employment Insurance investigations, the regulation of water levels in the St. Lawrence Seaway, and discussions regarding parliamentary privilege and the role of the Parliamentary Budget Officer. Several notices of motions were also presented, along with the tabling of committee reports and answers to order paper questions.

This artifact details proceedings from a sitting of the Senate on March 19, 2013. The sitting included Senators' Statements, Routine Proceedings, Question Period, and Orders of the Day. During the sitting, the Senate received various reports and notices of motions, debated several bills at different stages (including the First Nations Financial Transparency Bill, Tax Conventions Implementation Bill, 2013, and Bill S-16 concerning contraband tobacco), and heard discussions on topics ranging from the devolution agreement in the Northwest Territories to the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline Project and climate change. A significant portion of the sitting involved a point of order raised by Senator Cools concerning the procedure for referring a case of privilege to a committee, which the Speaker took under advisement. No votes or decisions on the bill mentioned in the prompt (Bill S-16) are recorded in this specific artifact.

This artifact contains the official record of proceedings in the Senate on March 19, 2013. It includes Senate's Statements, Routine Proceedings, Question Period, Orders of the Day, and debates on several bills. Notably, it features a speech from the sponsor of Bill S-16, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (trafficking in contraband tobacco), who spoke in favour of the bill, outlining its provisions for creating a new offence and imposing minimum penalties for repeat offenders. Other debates included Bill C-27 concerning First Nations financial transparency, Bill S-17 regarding tax conventions, Bill S-16 on contraband tobacco, Bill C-42 on RCMP accountability, Bill S-215 on credit card fees, and discussions on cyberbullying, the Parliamentary Budget Officer, multiple sclerosis, and climate change. The artifact does not contain the full text of any bill, nor does it detail any legislative actions taken on Bill S-16 beyond the debate at second reading.

This artifact is a record of the Senate proceedings on April 16, 2013. The main focus of the day's proceedings, related to Bill S-16, was the debate at second reading concerning amendments to the Criminal Code regarding trafficking in contraband tobacco. During this debate, Senator Jane Cordy spoke about the bill, highlighting its aim to create new offences and mandatory minimum penalties for repeat offenders. She also raised concerns voiced by Aboriginal and First Nations leaders regarding the potential impact of the bill on incarcerated Indigenous youth. Senator Cordy also noted that the bill's approach, particularly the use of mandatory minimum sentences, was questioned, and that consultation with Aboriginal leaders might have been beneficial before its introduction. The debate concluded with the bill being read a second time, on division, and then referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs for further study. The rest of the sitting included various procedural matters such as the introduction of a new senator, congratulations, tributes, tabling of reports, question period, and debates on other bills.

During a Senate sitting on April 16, 2013, after opening remarks, the introduction of a new Senator, and other procedural matters, the Senate resumed debate on Bill S-16, an act to amend the Criminal Code regarding the trafficking of contraband tobacco. Senator Jane Cordy spoke in favour of the bill, outlining its purpose to create new Criminal Code offenses and mandatory minimum penalties for repeat offenders. She also raised concerns, shared by First Nations leaders, that the bill could disproportionately affect incarcerated Indigenous youth. Other Senators engaged in a question-and-answer session regarding the bill's potential impact and the effectiveness of mandatory minimum sentences. Following this discussion, the bill was read a second time, and then referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.

On May 9, 2013, the Senate met and engaged in various procedural activities, including the presentation of committee reports and debates on several inquiries and bills. Specifically, the Senate received reports concerning Senator Duffy's, Senator Brazeau's, and Senator Harb's expense claims, along with recommendations for policy changes related to Senate administrative rules and travel. The Senate also heard debates on an inquiry concerning missing and murdered Aboriginal women and another concerning the elimination of violence against women. Additionally, the Senate received reports on Bill S-16 (An Act to amend the Criminal Code (trafficking in contraband tobacco)), Bill C-43 (An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act), and Bill C-47 (An Act to enact the Nunavut Planning and Project Assessment Act and the Northwest Territories Surface Rights Board Act). Discussions also touched upon international affairs such as the situation in Syria and the ruling of the General Court of the European Union regarding the seal industry, as well as domestic issues like genetically modified alfalfa seed and support for families with autistic children. The Senate adjourned until May 21, 2013.

This Senate sitting on May 21, 2013, included tributes to the late Honourable Senator Doug Finley, discussions on questions of privilege related to Senate expense claims, and the tabling of various reports and estimates. The Senate also considered several bills, including Bill S-16 concerning contraband tobacco. The debate on Bill S-16 was adjourned at the third reading stage.

This artifact is a record of a Senate sitting on June 4, 2013. The sitting included the tabling of messages from the House of Commons, senators' statements on various topics (including World Oceans Week, the Sargasso Sea, and tributes to individuals), routine proceedings, question period, and the debate and voting on several bills. Notably, debate occurred on Bill C-42 (amendments to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act), Bill S-16 (amendments to the Criminal Code regarding contraband tobacco trafficking), Bill C-48 (technical tax amendments), Bill C-52 (fair rail freight service), and Bill C-316 (amendments to the Employment Insurance Act regarding incarceration). A motion in amendment to Bill C-42 was defeated, and Bill C-42 was passed. Bill S-16 was also passed after debate, with senators discussing its provisions, including the mandatory minimum sentences and its impact on First Nations communities. Bill C-48 and Bill C-52 proceeded to second reading debates which were adjourned. Debate on Bill C-316 was also adjourned, with a senator expressing strong opposition. The sitting concluded with the Senate adjourning.