Bill S-207 explained in plain English
An Act to amend the Conflict of Interest Act (gifts)
Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Parliament of Canada snapshot for 41st Parliament, 2nd 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.
Our plain-language take, written for civic education.
Source: By PoliticalData.ca
This bill amends the Conflict of Interest Act to restrict when public office holders and their families can accept gifts and increase the public reporting requirements for such gifts.
Bill S-207, also known as An Act to amend the Conflict of Interest Act (gifts), aims to change the rules around gifts for public office holders and their families. It proposes to reduce the situations where these individuals can accept gifts and expand the requirements for reporting these gifts. Specifically, it would amend the Conflict of Interest Act concerning the disclosure and public declaration of gifts received from sources other than relatives.
- Amends the Conflict of Interest Act to change the rules for accepting gifts.
- Narrows the circumstances under which public office holders and their families can accept gifts.
- Expands the circumstances under which reporting public office holders must disclose gifts received by themselves or their families.
- Amends provisions related to the disclosure of gifts by reporting public office holders.
- Amends provisions related to public declarations of gifts accepted by reporting public office holders.
- Public office holders
- Members of the families of public office holders
- Reporting public office holders
- The Commissioner of the Conflict of Interest Act
- Reporting public office holders must disclose gifts or advantages to the Commissioner if the total value from one source (excluding relatives) exceeds $200 within a 12-month period, within 30 days of the threshold being met. (Section 2, amending Section 23 of the Act)
- Reporting public office holders must make a public declaration within 30 days if they or a family member accept a single gift or advantage valued at $200 or more, excluding those from relatives. The declaration must include sufficient detail to identify the gift, donor, and circumstances. (Section 3, amending Section 25(5) of the Act)
- The bill was given first reading on October 31, 2013.
- The bill text does not specify the exact commencement date when these changes would take effect.
- The bill text does not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance with the disclosure or declaration requirements.
Changes subsection 11(2)(b) to remove 'or friend' from the exceptions allowing acceptance of gifts, meaning gifts from friends may no longer be an exception. (Section 1)
Source: Section 1
Replaces section 23 to stipulate that if the total value of gifts from any one source (other than relatives) exceeds $200 in a 12-month period, the reporting public office holder must disclose these to the Commissioner within 30 days of the value exceeding $200. This replaces the previous wording which excluded both relatives and friends.
Source: Section 2
Replaces subsection 25(5) to require that if a reporting public office holder or family member accepts a single gift or advantage valued at $200 or more (other than from a relative), a public declaration must be made within 30 days, detailing the gift, donor, and circumstances. This removes friends as an exception from this requirement.
Source: Section 3
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 textParliamentary Process
Bill S-207 completed its First Reading in the Senate on October 31, 2013, initiating its journey through Parliament.
This artifact describes the initial procedural step for Bill S-207 in the Senate on October 31, 2013. It marks the completion of the First Reading stage, where the bill was formally introduced. The record also notes subsequent procedural events like referral to committee and second reading dates, as well as related speeches and similar bills.
In the Senate on October 31, 2013, Bill S-207 was introduced for first reading, and a significant debate began on a motion to suspend three senators, focusing on procedural fairness and parliamentary rules, which was ultimately adjourned.
On October 31, 2013, the Senate commenced its sitting with routine business. A key procedural event was the introduction of Bill S-207, "An Act to amend the Conflict of Interest Act (gifts)", which was given first reading. The Senate also debated a motion to suspend Senators Patrick Brazeau, Michael Duffy, and Pamela Wallin, with discussions focusing on due process, fairness, and the appropriate parliamentary procedures for such sanctions. The debate on this motion was adjourned, and a notice of motion was given to limit further debate time. Other discussions included the impact of federal job cuts on Prince Edward Island, concerns about government scientists facing political interference, and the security of veterans' information. The Senate also confirmed its adjournment schedule for the upcoming week.
Bill S-207, an Act to amend the Conflict of Interest Act (gifts), completed its second reading in the Senate on May 8, 2014, and was subsequently referred to committee.
This record shows that Bill S-207, which aims to amend the Conflict of Interest Act concerning gifts, completed its second reading stage in the Senate on May 8, 2014. Following this, the bill was referred to a committee for further consideration. The record also lists the dates of major speeches given during the second reading and mentions similar bills that have been introduced in the current and previous Parliaments.
During a Senate sitting on December 5, 2013, the second reading debate on Bill S-207, concerning amendments to the Conflict of Interest Act regarding gifts, was adjourned after the bill's proponent explained its purpose and the exceptions related to gifts from friends.
On December 5, 2013, the Senate convened for a debate at the second reading stage of Bill S-207, an Act to amend the Conflict of Interest Act concerning gifts. During the sitting, various other matters were discussed, including a question of privilege regarding alleged interference in an audit, a report on the state of Canada's forests, the presentation of committee reports, discussions on teenage sexual trafficking, missing and murdered Aboriginal women, veterans' healthcare, and several bills including those related to coastal fisheries, statutes repeal, disability tax credit promoters, criminal organization recruitment, and the Indian Act. The debate on Bill S-207 was ultimately adjourned.
During the Senate's second reading debate on Bill S-207, senators discussed the need to amend the Conflict of Interest Act to address the undefined exception for gifts from 'friends', which could be used to improperly influence public office-holders.
This artifact is a record of a debate in the Senate on December 5, 2013, concerning Bill S-207, an Act to amend the Conflict of Interest Act (gifts). The debate focused on the exceptions within the Act related to accepting gifts from 'friends' and the potential for these exceptions to be exploited. The bill proposes to remove or clarify this exception to prevent undue influence on public office-holders. The discussion highlighted that the term 'friend' is not defined in the current Act, creating a loophole.
During a Senate sitting on March 5, 2014, the debate on Bill S-207, concerning amendments to the Conflict of Interest Act (gifts), was continued and then adjourned at the second reading stage.
On March 5, 2014, the Senate convened for a sitting that included debates on several bills and other matters. Specifically, Bill S-207, concerning amendments to the Conflict of Interest Act regarding gifts, was at the second reading stage. The debate on this bill was continued and then adjourned. Other proceedings included the presentation of a committee report on the Northwest Territories Devolution Bill, tabling of a report on the scrutiny of regulations, notice of a motion to study the subject matter of a bill on the Citizenship Act, and a debate on Bill C-217, an act to amend the Criminal Code concerning mischief relating to war memorials. The sitting also featured discussions on various topics including the Frontier Fiddlers program, Special Olympics, the late James A. Coutts, International Women's Week, the tragic death of Loretta Saunders, climate change impacts on shellfish, grain distribution issues, and the Canadian defence procurement strategy. The debate on Bill S-207 was continued and subsequently adjourned.
During a Senate sitting on May 8, 2014, various topics were discussed, including multiple bills, with a debate specifically occurring on Bill S-207, which proposes amendments to the Conflict of Interest Act regarding gifts.
This artifact is a record of a Senate sitting on May 8, 2014. The sitting included debates on several topics, including Canadian innovations in diabetes care, the expiry of the Health Council of Canada's funding, the 30th anniversary of a tragedy at the National Assembly of Quebec, the March for Life, National Hospice Palliative Care Week, the 71st anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic, the "Talibanization" of Brunei, the Mental Health Commission of Canada's mandate, the management of penitentiaries by Correctional Service Canada, exhibition funding for product marketing, net neutrality, CBC/Radio-Canada's budget issues, and ongoing legislative matters. The sitting also included second reading debates and committee referrals for several bills. Specifically for Bill S-207, An Act to amend the Conflict of Interest Act (gifts), a second reading debate occurred where concerns were raised about the bill's proposed changes to the definition and disclosure of gifts from friends.
During the Senate's second reading debate on Bill S-207, Senator Linda Frum argued against amending the Conflict of Interest Act to remove the exception for gifts from friends, while Senator Joseph A. Day defended the need for such an amendment.
On May 8, 2014, the Senate debated Bill S-207, An Act to amend the Conflict of Interest Act (gifts). Senator Linda Frum spoke against the bill, arguing that the current Conflict of Interest Act, as part of the Federal Accountability Act, is already robust and does not have a "gaping hole" regarding gifts from friends. She stated that the exception allowing public office holders to accept gifts from friends is reasonable and that removing it would create an unnecessary burden on office holders and the Commissioner of Conflict of Interest and Ethics. Senator Joseph A. Day, the bill's sponsor, asked clarifying questions and expressed his continued concern about the undefined term "friend" in the act.
Bill S-207, concerning amendments to the Conflict of Interest Act regarding gifts, was undergoing consideration by a Senate committee on October 28, 2014, but this stage was not completed.
This record describes the stage of Bill S-207, An Act to amend the Conflict of Interest Act (gifts), in the Senate. The bill was referred to a committee on May 8, 2014, and the record indicates that the 'Consideration in committee' stage occurred on October 28, 2014. The stage state is noted as 'Not completed,' meaning the committee's work on this bill was not finished at that point. The artifact does not provide details of the committee's discussions or decisions.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Report stage yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Third reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for First reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Second reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Consideration in committee yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Report stage yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Third reading 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
This bill is still active. We only show vote counts after the legislature publishes a recorded division.
No published representative vote breakdown
This bill is still moving through the process. When a recorded division is published, representative positions can be listed here.
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