Bill S-209 explained in plain English

This artifact is a record of the Senate proceedings on March 15, 2012. During this sitting, Bill S-209, an Act to amend the Criminal Code (prize fights), was presented for its first reading. The sitting also included other routine proceedings, question period, and debates on various other bills and motions, but the introduction of Bill S-209 was a specific procedural step related to this legislation.

This record details a sitting of the Senate on April 4, 2012. The Senate considered various reports, made procedural announcements, and debated several bills. Notably, Bill S-209, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (prize fights), was debated at second reading and its debate was adjourned. The sitting also included discussions on other legislative matters, including amendments to the Income Tax Act, Interpretation Act, and a private bill concerning Industrial Alliance Pacific Insurance and Financial Services Inc. The Senate also adopted committee reports on budgets and studies.

This artifact is a record of a debate that took place in the Senate on April 4, 2012, concerning Bill S-209, an Act to amend the Criminal Code (prize fights). The debate occurred during the second reading stage of the bill's legislative process. The bill aims to update the definition of prizefighting to include fights involving fists, hands, or feet, and to expand the list of exceptions to include amateur combative sports recognized by the International Olympic Committee or designated by a province, as well as professional boxing and mixed martial arts contests held under provincial athletic authority. The sponsor of the bill highlighted the growing popularity and economic impact of mixed martial arts (MMA) in Canada, noting that existing legislation created a legal grey area for such sports. The sponsor also addressed concerns about the safety of MMA, citing studies that suggest its injury rates are comparable to other combat sports and pointing to safety regulations already in place. The debate also touched upon other matters, including international days, various reports from parliamentary associations, and a lengthy discussion on the F-35 aircraft purchase, as well as debates on Bill S-205 (Income Tax Act) and Bill S-207 (Interpretation Act). The record shows that the debate on Bill S-209 was adjourned, meaning it was not concluded on this date.

This artifact is a record of a Senate sitting on April 26, 2012. It details various proceedings including Senators' Statements on Daffodil Day, Canadian Cancer Society initiatives, and women's health programs. Routine Proceedings saw the tabling of an Auditor General's letter, a committee report on Métis rights, and a private bill report. Question Period addressed the Community Access Program, Canada Periodical Fund, foreign aid, and Coast Guard services. The sitting also included debate and progress on several bills: Bill S-209 (Criminal Code amendment on prize fights) was debated and referred to committee; Bill S-204 (National Strategy for CCSVI) was debated and referred to committee; Bill C-278 (Purple Day for epilepsy awareness) was debated and referred to committee; Bill C-290 (Criminal Code amendment on sports betting) was debated; Bill C-288 (National Flag of Canada Act) was debated; and inquiries on recreational salmon fishing, modernization of Senate practices, and food banks were debated or adjourned. A motion to encourage local governments to offer reduced-rate access to recreational facilities was also debated. The Senate then adjourned.

This document is a record of a Senate debate on April 26, 2012. The main discussion related to Bill S-209, an act to amend the Criminal Code concerning prize fights. Senator Larry W. Campbell spoke in favour of the bill, explaining that it would update the definition of prizefighting to include hands and feet, and would exempt amateur combative sports like judo and karate, as well as mixed martial arts, from prosecution. He noted the popularity of mixed martial arts and its economic benefits. The bill was read a second time and referred to committee. The document also includes discussions on other matters such as Daffodil Day, the Women's Health Contribution Program, international trade, various committee reports, questions on the Community Access Program and the Canada Periodical Fund, foreign aid, the Coast Guard, chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI), epilepsy awareness (Purple Day), sports betting, the national flag, recreational salmon fishing, food banks, prevention of mass atrocities, and a motion regarding a national health and fitness day. The Senate adjourned at the end of the day.

On June 14, 2012, the Senate met. During this sitting, the Senate's Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee presented its fourteenth report concerning Bill S-209, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (prize fights). The committee reported that they had examined the bill and proposed one amendment: to replace line 14 with text regarding the International Olympic Committee or the International Paralympic Committee. The report was then placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting.

This record details a sitting of the Senate on June 18, 2012. The sitting included Senators' Statements on various topics, Routine Proceedings such as tabling reports and introducing new bills, Question Period addressing topics like global malaria prevention and budget cutbacks, and Orders of the Day where numerous bills and inquiries were debated or advanced. A key procedural event was the adoption of the fourteenth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs concerning Bill S-209, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (prize fights), including an amendment approved in committee. This report was then adopted, and the bill was placed on the Order of the Day for third reading.

On June 22, 2012, the Senate convened for a sitting that included various proceedings. Notably, the Senate considered Bill S-209, "An Act to amend the Criminal Code (prize fights)." During the third reading debate of this bill, Senator Bob Runciman explained its purpose: to update the definition of "prize fight" in the Criminal Code to reflect modern combative sports and to expand exemptions to include amateur sports recognized by the International Olympic Committee or Paralympic Committee, as well as those approved by provincial athletic bodies and mixed martial arts contests under provincial authority. He stated that the bill was important for regulatory commissions and aimed to provide a more secure legal framework for regulating these sports and ensuring athlete safety. The Senate then agreed to the motion for the third reading of Bill S-209, and it was read a third time and passed. The sitting also included other legislative and procedural matters, such as debates on other bills (Bill C-31, Bill S-10, Bill C-310, Bill C-300, Bill C-314), committee reports, inquiries, and adjournment motions. The transcript does not contain the full text of Bill S-209 or its amendments, nor does it detail the specific votes or outcomes of all discussions.