Bill S-208 explained in plain English

On November 6, 2013, the Senate of Canada held a sitting where Bill S-208, An Act to establish the Canadian Commission on Mental Health and Justice, was formally introduced and received its first reading. Senator James S. Cowan introduced the bill, and it was then placed on the Order of the Day for second reading two days later. The sitting also included various other proceedings, such as tabling reports, notices of motions, and debates on unrelated matters. The introduction of Bill S-208 was a procedural step, marking its formal beginning in the Senate legislative process.

This document records the proceedings of the Senate on February 4, 2014. The Senate met and heard from various senators on different topics. Notably, Senator James S. Cowan moved second reading of Bill S-208, "An Act to establish the Canadian Commission on Mental Health and Justice," and requested that the debate be adjourned. Other senators spoke on topics including the Order of Canada, the Sochi Olympics, health services in Manitoba, a 350th anniversary celebration, the national mental health strategy, annual reports, Senate business procedures, oversight of security agencies, the Canada-European Union trade agreement, and several other bills concerning financial administration, human trafficking, human rights, and war memorials. The Senate also adopted a report on prescription pharmaceuticals and began a debate on the legislative role of the Senate.

This Senate sitting on February 13, 2014, included discussions on various topics before proceeding with legislative business. Senators spoke about "Hooked on School Days," a Winter Olympics athlete, the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, the passing of Corinne Robertshaw, an Ontario Medal for Police Bravery recipient, and tabled reports on "Budget 2014," the "Mental Health Commission of Canada Annual Report 2012-2013," and "Supplementary Estimates (C)." The Senate also debated ongoing matters including the "Motion for Address in Reply" to the Speech from the Throne, the "National Health and Fitness Day Bill," and the "Canadian Commission on Mental Health and Justice Bill." Additionally, discussions occurred regarding suicide prevention, alternative energy sources in the Northwest Territories, social housing agreements, and income splitting in Budget 2014. Two bills, Bill S-206 concerning "protection of children against standard child-rearing violence" and Bill S-210 to amend the Criminal Code (criminal interest rate), had their second reading debates continued. The Senate also addressed an inquiry concerning the "Canada Periodical Fund" and its impact on minority language newspapers, and authorized a committee study on "One Call" programs for underground infrastructure. Finally, the Senate debated the concept of Senate reform and adjourned for the day.

During the Senate's second reading debate on Bill S-208, an act to establish the Canadian Commission on Mental Health and Justice, Senator James S. Cowan spoke about the significant overrepresentation of individuals with mental health issues within the criminal justice system. He highlighted statistics indicating a doubling of offenders with identified mental health needs between 1997 and 2008, and noted that prisons are increasingly becoming de facto mental health facilities. Senator Cowan argued that the bill aims to address this by establishing a commission to facilitate the development and sharing of knowledge, data, and expertise on mental health and the criminal justice system. The commission's mandate would include promoting crime prevention, early detection and treatment of mental illness, destigmatizing mental illness, and studying laws and policies to improve outcomes for those involved with the justice system. The speech also included discussions on other matters before the Senate, such as youth engagement, recognizing an Olympian, international parliamentary organizations, honouring a lawyer's advocacy for child protection, recognizing a police bravery recipient, tabling of various documents including the Budget 2014 and annual reports, motions to study estimates, reports from international delegations, motions to study First Nations infrastructure, suicide prevention, alternative energy sources in the Northwest Territories, social housing agreements, income splitting in the budget, Senate reform, a bill to establish a national health and fitness day, a bill to amend the Criminal Code regarding child-rearing violence, a bill to amend the Criminal Code regarding criminal interest rates, and the Canada Periodical Fund's impact on minority language newspapers. A motion to authorize a committee to study "One Call" programs for underground infrastructure was also discussed, and an inquiry on Senate reform was debated.

On May 1, 2014, the Senate convened for a sitting that included several procedural matters and debates on various bills and issues. The Senate acknowledged journalists lost in the line of duty, welcomed visitors, and heard tributes to individuals. Procedural matters included the presentation of a committee report, the introduction of new bills (Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation Bill, Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament Bill), and a committee being authorized to meet during a Senate sitting. The sitting also featured ongoing debates on several bills: Bill S-4 (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act amendments), Bill S-217 (modernizing board of directors composition), Bill S-211 (National Health and Fitness Day), Bill S-208 (Canadian Commission on Mental Health and Justice), Bill S-206 (Criminal Code amendments regarding child discipline), Bill S-210 (Criminal Code amendments regarding criminal interest rates), and Bill C-501 (National Hunting, Trapping and Fishing Heritage Day). Discussions also occurred on the security crisis in the Central African Republic and the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, as well as the closure of Mirabel Airport. Debate on Bill S-208 was continued and then adjourned.

This Senate sitting on June 16, 2014, included several key procedural events. A significant portion of the sitting was dedicated to tributes and expressions of thanks for Senator Roméo Antonius Dallaire, who was retiring. The Senate also debated and continued debate on several bills, including Bill S-4 concerning electronic documents and privacy, and Bill C-394 concerning criminal organization recruitment. There were also procedural discussions and motions related to various committee reports and the handling of bills, including a debate on the length and content of budget implementation bills. Senator Dallaire delivered his final speech, reflecting on his career and international issues. The sitting concluded with various bills being advanced or adjourned.

On June 19, 2014, the Senate conducted its business for the day. The Senate debated Bill S-208, an Act to establish the Canadian Commission on Mental Health and Justice. While acknowledging the bill's objectives, Senator Martin expressed concerns that it might duplicate existing efforts and proposed referring it to committee for further examination. The Senate also debated other bills, heard committee reports, and discussed various inquiries and motions, including tributes to retiring senators and a motion honouring Canadian soldiers who fought in the Italian campaign.

The Senate debated Bill S-208, An Act to establish the Canadian Commission on Mental Health and Justice. The government's representative acknowledged the bill's objectives but expressed concerns about potential duplication with existing initiatives like the Mental Health Commission of Canada. The speaker agreed to refer the bill to committee for further examination. A senator also questioned the long-term funding of the Mental Health Commission and whether its mandate should be extended.

On April 1, 2015, the Senate met, and the Nineteenth Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology concerning Bill S-208, An Act to establish the Canadian Commission on Mental Health and Justice, was presented. The report was then scheduled for consideration at the next sitting. The Senate also observed tributes to the late Senator Aurélien Gill, and discussed other matters including World Autism Awareness Day, Parkinson's Awareness Month, and tabled reports on Main Estimates. A significant portion of the sitting involved a debate on Bill C-44, an Act to amend the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act, where a motion in amendment was proposed regarding oversight mechanisms and the use of human intelligence sources. This motion was ultimately negatived.