Bill S-223 explained in plain English

This artifact is a record of a Senate sitting on June 19, 2014. It details various proceedings including the tabling of committee reports, the adoption of motions, and debates on several bills. Notably, it records a debate on Bill S-223, which proposes to amend the Constitution Act, 1867, and the Parliament of Canada Act regarding the Speakership of the Senate. The debate focused on the process of electing a Senate Speaker, the role of the Speaker, and the constitutional authority for such changes. Other discussions in the sitting covered a range of topics, including financial support for firefighters, national Aboriginal day, climate change, affordable housing, and the processes of various other bills.

This artifact is a record of debate at the second reading stage of Bill S-223 in the Senate. The main purpose of the debate was to discuss the bill's proposal to change how the Speaker of the Senate is selected. The bill suggests senators should elect their Speaker and Deputy Speaker, rather than the Prime Minister appointing them. The debate also touched on the Speaker's role, the process of amending the Constitution, and how similar systems work in other countries and Canadian provinces. The bill's sponsor argued that electing the Speaker would make the Senate more independent and democratic, while other speakers discussed the current process and the potential for reform from within the Senate.

On December 12, 2014, the Senate continued its debate at the second reading stage of Bill S-223, An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 and the Parliament of Canada Act (Speakership of the Senate). The debate was adjourned to a later date. The sitting also included discussions on various other matters, including the Canadian flag, leadership changes within Indigenous organizations, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, solitary confinement in federal prisons, economic recovery, housing market risks, supply management in agriculture, and proposed amendments to immigration, civil marriage, and criminal law (Bill S-7). Additionally, there was a point of order raised regarding the procedural validity of omnibus bills (Bill C-43), a debate on a framework for Lyme disease (Bill C-442), and committee reports presented. The sitting concluded with remarks for Senator Asha Seth, who was leaving the Senate.

This artifact is a record of a Senate sitting on March 10, 2015. The sitting included tributes to Sergeant Andrew Joseph Doiron and Ernest Côté, discussions on International Women's Day, a report on prescription pharmaceuticals, notices of motions to extend committee report dates, and debates on various issues including oversight of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, trade dispute resolution mechanisms in the Canada-European Union agreement, amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code (gender identity), and the selection of the Senate Speaker. The debate on Bill S-223, concerning the speakership of the Senate, was continued. Various inquiries were also debated, including those related to Trinity Western University and the challenges faced by informal caregivers of persons with dementia.

On March 10, 2015, the Senate continued its second reading debate on Bill S-223, which aims to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 and the Parliament of Canada Act concerning the speakership of the Senate. The debate on this bill was continued from a previous sitting. In addition to the debate on Bill S-223, the Senate's proceedings for the day included tributes to Sergeant Andrew Joseph Doiron and Ernest Côté, discussions on International Women's Day, and debates on various other matters including Bill C-51 concerning the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, and Bill C-279 concerning gender identity. The Senate also heard notices of motions to extend committee report dates and addressed an inquiry regarding Trinity Western University.