Bill S-210 explained in plain English

This document records the Senate's sitting on May 2, 2012. It details the introduction of Bill S-210, an Act to amend the Fisheries Act concerning commercial seal fishing. The sitting also included various other proceedings such as Senators' Statements on diverse topics, tabling of committee reports, and questions raised during Question Period concerning issues like the Canada Periodical Fund, Veterans Independence Program, the financial system, and Parks Canada. Additionally, debates continued on other bills, including Bill S-207 regarding aboriginal treaty rights and an inquiry on the 30th anniversary of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Bill S-210 was presented for its first reading and placed on the order paper for second reading at a future date.

This document records a sitting of the Senate on June 14, 2012. The sitting included Senator statements recognizing individuals, tabling of committee reports, question period on various topics, and debates on several bills and motions. Specifically, the debate on Bill S-210, An Act to amend the Fisheries Act (commercial seal fishing), was opened and then adjourned.

This artifact documents the Senate's second reading debate on Bill S-210, an Act to amend the Fisheries Act concerning commercial seal fishing. The debate was initiated by Senator Mac Harb, who spoke about the declining viability of the commercial seal hunt, the lack of international markets for seal products, and the majority of Canadians' desire to end the practice. He also discussed the need for government assistance for sealers and the relationship between seals and cod stocks. Senator Harb also highlighted the potential economic benefits for Inuit and First Nations hunters through existing exemptions in international bans on seal products, suggesting government support for processing, training, and marketing. The debate was adjourned after his initial remarks, and the bill was ultimately defeated.

On October 16, 2012, the Senate convened a sitting where discussions took place regarding the Honourable Herb Sparrow, the Honourable Dalton McGuinty, and recipients of the Diamond Jubilee Medal. The Senate also tabled annual reports from the Commissioner of Official Languages. During Question Period, delayed answers were provided on international cooperation, the RADARSAT Satellite and Communication Projects, the Experimental Lakes Area research facility closure, Statistics Canada data, and women's rights in Afghanistan. The Senate also proceeded with orders of the day, including the adoption of the seventh report of the Agriculture and Forestry Committee concerning Bill S-11 (Safe Food for Canadians Act), and continued debate on Bill S-210 (An Act to amend the Fisheries Act regarding commercial seal fishing) and Bill S-211 (An Act to amend the Official Languages Act). Debate on Bill C-293 (An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act concerning vexatious complainants) was adjourned. The fourth report of the Committee on Conflict of Interest for Senators was adopted, and the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources was authorized to study emerging issues. The sitting concluded with the adjournment of the Senate.

This artifact is a record of debate in the Senate on October 31, 2012, concerning Bill S-210, an Act to amend the Fisheries Act (commercial seal fishing). While the bill was on the agenda for second reading debate, the provided text does not detail the conclusion of this debate or the bill's ultimate fate at this stage. Instead, the sitting included discussions on various other matters such as the Special Olympics, tributes to the late Lincoln M. Alexander, job cuts affecting Prince Edward Island, the anniversary of Canada-Greece diplomatic relations, and the results of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations election. Procedural matters such as notices of motion for committee meetings and the tabling of a delayed answer to a question were also addressed. The sitting also saw debates on other bills, including Bill C-46 (Members of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act), Bill C-300 (Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention Bill), and the first reading of three other bills (C-309, C-350, C-217). The debate on Bill S-210 specifically featured arguments for and against the commercial seal hunt, with one senator highlighting its cultural and economic importance to coastal communities, while another questioned the sustainability of the market for seal products and suggested alternative support for sealers.

This record details a Senate debate on Bill S-210, an Act to amend the Fisheries Act regarding commercial seal fishing. While the bill itself is not summarized here, the debate includes arguments about the sustainability of seal hunting, its importance to coastal communities, the management of seal populations, and the marketability of seal products. The debate also touches on the impact of seal populations on fish stocks and research into the health benefits of seal oil. It also includes discussions on unrelated topics such as Special Olympics, the passing of Lincoln Alexander, job cuts, Canada-Greece relations, the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations election, and various other legislative matters before the Senate.

This Senate sitting on November 1, 2012, included a debate on Bill S-210, which aimed to amend the Fisheries Act concerning commercial seal fishing. The debate at the second reading stage continued, with Senator Ghislain Maltais speaking in opposition to the bill and Senator Mac Harb questioning his arguments. The sitting also featured discussions on various other matters, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving, food bank usage, international parliamentary assemblies, National Down Syndrome Awareness Week, Veterans' Week, Filipino Canadians, visitors in the gallery, Royal Assent to previously passed bills, tabling of committee reports on sockeye salmon, internal economy, and prescription pharmaceuticals, first reading of a bill on First Nations self-government, a notice of inquiry regarding the Royal Air Force Bomber Command Memorial, questions during Question Period on public service hiring of veterans, mental health services, EI financing, and public accounts, and continued debates on the Official Languages Act, a Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention Bill, and inquiries regarding First Nations self-government and the RCMP. The sitting concluded with a motion to adjourn.

This document records a Senate sitting on November 8, 2012, during the second reading debate of Bill S-210, an Act to amend the Fisheries Act concerning commercial seal fishing. The sitting included Senators' Statements on various topics, Routine Proceedings where reports were tabled and bills were introduced, Question Period addressing government decisions, and Orders of the Day where bills were debated or adjourned. The debate on Bill S-210 was continued, featuring a speech by Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette discussing the challenges of declining fish stocks, the growing seal population, and the potential for a regulated seal harvest and associated industries. The debate was ultimately adjourned.

This artifact is a record of a Senate sitting on November 20, 2012. During this sitting, the Senate debated Bill S-210, which aimed to amend the Fisheries Act concerning commercial seal fishing. The debate focused on the impact of such a ban on Indigenous communities, particularly the Inuit, and raised concerns about animal rights rhetoric, economic consequences, and cultural preservation. The Senate also discussed other matters, including National Child Day, Diabetes Awareness, bilingual services in the Coast Guard, the status of a committee on official languages, and various other bills and inquiries. The record shows that Bill S-210 was part of the 'Orders of the Day' for debate, indicating it was under consideration at that stage.

On February 27, 2013, the Senate debated Bill S-210, an Act to amend the Fisheries Act concerning commercial seal fishing. The debate at the second reading stage focused on the economic viability of the commercial seal hunt, the number of people involved, the impact on fish stocks, and the use of taxpayer money to support the industry. Arguments were made that markets for seal products have disappeared, that the number of sealers is much lower than claimed, and that seals are not the primary cause of declining fish stocks. The debate also touched upon the difference between commercial sealing and Indigenous sealing, and the government's approach to international trade bans. Ultimately, the motion for the second reading of Bill S-210 was defeated.

This artifact is a record of the Senate debate on February 27, 2013. The primary procedural event related to Bill S-210 was the Senate's second reading of the bill, where the motion for second reading was defeated, thus ending the bill's progression. The debate itself focused on the commercial seal hunt, with proponents arguing for its economic importance and opponents highlighting its decline and the government's support for it. Other discussions in the Senate included tributes to notable individuals, government reports, notices of motions for committee studies, and questions about government programs and the military budget. A significant portion of the debate involved a question of privilege raised by Senator Cools concerning the Parliamentary Budget Officer, which was ultimately taken under advisement by the Speaker.