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FederalPassed41st Parliament, 1st Session

Bill S-201 explained in plain English

An Act respecting a National Philanthropy Day

Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.

At a glance

Jurisdiction
Federal Parliament
Legislature / Parliament
Parliament of Canada
Session
41st Parliament, 1st Session
Bill number
Bill S-201
Full title
An Act respecting a National Philanthropy Day
Current status
Passed
Latest event
Royal assent received
Last updated
Nov 22, 2012

Official Parliament of Canada snapshot for 41st Parliament, 1st 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.

Chamber
Parliament of Canada
Current Stage
Royal assent received
Latest Activity
Nov 22, 2012
Plain-language explanation
In plain English (our explanation)

Our plain-language take, written for civic education.

Source: By PoliticalData.ca

AI-assisted, reviewed before publishing
Short Version

Bill S-201 designates November 15th annually as National Philanthropy Day in Canada.

What It Means

This bill establishes November 15th of each year as National Philanthropy Day across Canada. It aims to honour Canadians who demonstrate generosity and the spirit of giving.

What This Bill Does
  • Designates November 15th of each year as National Philanthropy Day.
  • Acknowledges the spirit of philanthropy and the contributions of volunteers and charitable organizations.
Who Is Affected
  • All Canadians
  • Volunteers
  • Charitable organizations
Important Dates
  • November 15th of each year is designated as National Philanthropy Day.
  • The Act received Royal Assent on November 22, 2012.
Uncertainties Or Limits
  • The bill does not create any specific programs, duties, or penalties associated with National Philanthropy Day. Its effect is primarily symbolic.
  • The bill text does not specify how National Philanthropy Day is to be observed or recognized beyond its designation.

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 text

Parliamentary Process

Step 1
First reading
Jun 7, 2011
Completed

Bill S-201, to establish a National Philanthropy Day, completed its First Reading in the Senate on June 7, 2011, and eventually received Royal Assent on November 22, 2012.

Introduction and first reading, Jun 7, 2011
End of stage activity, Jun 7, 2011
Chamber sittings
Introduction and first reading - Jun 7, 2011

During a Senate sitting on June 7, 2011, a new senator was sworn in, various documents were tabled, and Bill S-201, An Act respecting a National Philanthropy Day, received first reading, after which the Senate began debate on the Speech from the Throne.

Step 2
Second reading
Oct 6, 2011
Completed

This record documents the second reading process of Bill S-201 in the Senate, which ultimately led to the establishment of National Philanthropy Day.

Second reading, Oct 6, 2011
Referral to committee, Oct 6, 2011
End of stage activity, Oct 6, 2011
Chamber sittings
Debate at second reading - Jun 14, 2011

During a Senate sitting on June 14, 2011, a new senator was sworn in, administrative motions were passed, and various debates occurred, including an adjourned debate on the second reading of Bill S-201 concerning National Philanthropy Day.

During a Senate sitting on June 14, 2011, Senator Mercer moved second reading of Bill S-201 to establish a National Philanthropy Day, emphasizing its importance in recognizing volunteers and charitable work, after which the debate was adjourned.

Debate at second reading - Oct 6, 2011

During a Senate sitting on October 6, 2011, Bill S-201, An Act respecting a National Philanthropy Day, was debated at second reading, passed, and referred to committee, alongside other Senate business including statements on various topics and debates on procedural motions.

In the Senate's second reading debate on Bill S-201, Senator Andrée Champagne spoke in support of establishing a National Philanthropy Day, emphasizing the charitable nature of Canadians and the importance of philanthropy to national identity.

Step 3
Consideration in committee
Dec 1, 2011
Completed

The Senate completed its committee consideration stage for Bill S-201, An Act respecting a National Philanthropy Day, on December 1, 2011, before it eventually received Royal Assent.

Committee report presented, Dec 1, 2011
End of stage activity, Dec 1, 2011
Chamber sittings
Committee report presented - Dec 1, 2011

The Senate received a committee report on Bill S-201 concerning National Philanthropy Day and advanced the bill to third reading, alongside other legislative business.

Step 4
Third reading
Dec 1, 2011
Completed

Bill S-201, An Act respecting a National Philanthropy Day, completed its third reading in the Senate on December 1, 2011, and later received Royal Assent on November 22, 2012.

Third reading, Dec 1, 2011
End of stage activity, Dec 1, 2011
Chamber sittings
Debate at third reading - Dec 1, 2011

The Senate concluded the third reading and passed Bill S-201, An Act respecting a National Philanthropy Day, after a brief statement by Senator Mercer.

Step 5
Consideration in committee
Dec 1, 2011
Not completed

The Senate completed its committee consideration stage for Bill S-201, An Act respecting a National Philanthropy Day, on December 1, 2011, before it eventually received Royal Assent.

Step 1
First reading
Dec 8, 2011
Completed

Bill S-201, concerning a National Philanthropy Day, completed its first reading in the House of Commons on December 8, 2011, as part of a legislative process that concluded with royal assent in November 2012.

First reading, Dec 8, 2011
End of stage activity, Dec 8, 2011
Chamber sittings
First reading - Dec 8, 2011

On December 8, 2011, in the House of Commons, the National Philanthropy Day Act was introduced.

Step 2
Second reading
May 16, 2012
Completed

On May 16, 2012, the House of Commons completed the second reading of Bill S-201, An Act respecting a National Philanthropy Day, and referred it to committee, a step which was later followed by Royal Assent.

Placed in the Order of Precedence, Dec 8, 2011
Second reading and referral to committee, May 16, 2012
End of stage activity, May 16, 2012
Chamber sittings
Debate at second reading - Mar 27, 2012

During a House of Commons sitting on March 27, 2012, members debated Bill S-201, which sought to designate November 15 as National Philanthropy Day.

The sponsor of Bill S-201 delivered a speech in the House of Commons advocating for the official designation of November 15 as National Philanthropy Day to increase public awareness and appreciation of charitable giving and volunteerism in Canada.

During a House of Commons debate on the Financial System Review Act (Bill S-5), members discussed proposed changes to financial legislation, consumer protection, and the oversight of foreign acquisitions, with differing opinions on the bill's scope and the consultation process.

The House of Commons debated Bill S-201, proposing to designate November 15th as National Philanthropy Day to celebrate and encourage charitable giving and volunteerism in Canada.

Debate at second reading - May 16, 2012

The House of Commons debated Bill S-201, An Act respecting a National Philanthropy Day, with members expressing support for formally recognizing this day and acknowledging the importance of philanthropy and volunteerism in Canada.

Step 3
Consideration in committee
Oct 18, 2012
Completed

The House of Commons Committee on Health considered Bill S-201 in October 2012, a step which was completed before the bill received Royal Assent.

Committee report presented, Oct 18, 2012
End of stage activity, Oct 18, 2012
Chamber sittings
Committee report presented - Oct 18, 2012

The House of Commons met on October 18, 2012, and during Routine Proceedings, the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage reported Bill S-201, An Act respecting a National Philanthropy Day, back to the House without amendments.

Step 4
Report stage
Oct 30, 2012
Completed

The House of Commons completed the Report stage for Bill S-201, An Act respecting a National Philanthropy Day, on October 30, 2012.

Concurrence at report stage, Oct 30, 2012
End of stage activity, Oct 30, 2012
Chamber sittings
Debate at report stage - Oct 30, 2012

This House of Commons Hansard record details a debate during the report stage of Bill S-201, though the majority of the text comprises discussions on other matters, particularly Bill C-45.

Step 5
Third reading
Nov 5, 2012
Completed

The House of Commons completed the third reading of Bill S-201 on November 5, 2012.

Third reading, Nov 5, 2012
End of stage activity, Nov 5, 2012
Chamber sittings
Debate at third reading - Oct 30, 2012

The House of Commons debated and advanced Bill S-201, An Act respecting a National Philanthropy Day, through report stage.

Debate at third reading - Nov 5, 2012

Members of the House of Commons debated Bill S-201 to establish National Philanthropy Day, with most expressing support while questioning the bill's sufficiency in addressing broader needs for supporting philanthropy.

Step 1
Royal assent
Nov 22, 2012
Royal assent, Nov 22, 2012
End of stage activity, Nov 22, 2012
Chamber sittings
Royal assent - Nov 22, 2012

We don't have a plain-language summary for Debates of the Senate 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

No published recorded division

This bill does not have a published recorded division in the current official sources, so representative-by-representative vote counts are not shown.

Sponsor
Terry M. Mercer
Senator | Details not listed in current Senate roster
Jurisdiction
Federal Parliament

No published representative vote breakdown

The current official sources do not publish a recorded division breakdown for this bill, so there is no representative-by-representative table to show.

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