Bill S-210 explained in plain English

On December 8, 2015, the Senate convened for a sitting that included the introduction and first reading of Bill S-210. The sitting also involved various procedural matters, including the tabling of reports and notices of motions. Several senators delivered speeches, some offering congratulations on the appointment of the new Speaker, George J. Furey, while others addressed issues such as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, terrorism, and the work of the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research. Two questions of privilege were raised and taken under advisement by the Speaker: one concerning media leaks of the Auditor General's report on senators' expenses, and another regarding the government's failure to appoint a Leader of the Government in the Senate. The debate on the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne was adjourned.

This Senate sitting on February 18, 2016, included a debate on Bill S-210 at its second reading stage. The debate focused on the bill's short title, "Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act," with Senator Mobina S. B. Jaffer arguing for its repeal. Other Senate business included tabling reports from various committees, introducing a new bill, and presenting notices of motions for future committee studies. The sitting also included a Question Period where the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stéphane Dion, addressed various international issues, including Canada-Russia relations, child soldiers, Iran's state sponsorship of terrorism, the conflict in Ukraine, women's issues in Syria, clean energy, religious freedom, the sale of armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia, the detention of a Canadian pastor in North Korea, and assistance for Francophone countries, as well as the fight against ISIS. The sitting concluded with a motion to adjourn until Tuesday, February 23, 2016.

On February 18, 2016, during the Senate's second reading debate for Bill S-210, Senator Mobina S. B. Jaffer delivered a speech. She explained that her purpose was to propose the repeal of the bill's short title, "Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act." Senator Jaffer argued that the title was divisive and misleading, implying that certain cultural groups inherently promote harmful practices. She cited the historical context of the word 'barbaric' and provided quotes from various experts and organizations who also expressed concerns that the title stigmatized minority communities and created an 'us vs. them' mentality. She emphasized that the bill's content, which deals with acts that are already illegal in Canada, was not the focus of her speech, but rather the problematic nature of the short title itself. The debate was adjourned after her speech.

On May 4, 2016, the Senate of Canada held a sitting where various matters were addressed. This included statements on the wildfires in Fort McMurray, Mental Health Week, and Bladder Cancer Awareness Month. Routine proceedings included notices of motions and the first reading of a bill. Question Period covered topics such as federal assistance for Fort McMurray fire victims, human rights in Iran, restrictive regulations in China, the establishment of a national commission on children and youth, financial support for combatting tax evasion, and support for Bombardier. The Senate also addressed a point of order where a ruling was reserved. Debate continued on amendments to the Food and Drugs Act concerning cruelty-free cosmetics (Bill S-214) and on amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Civil Marriage Act, and the Criminal Code related to barbaric cultural practices (Bill S-210). The sitting concluded with the adjournment of the Senate.

This document records a Senate debate on May 4, 2016. The debate focused on Bill S-210, an act to amend several existing laws, including those related to immigration, marriage, and the criminal code. A key point of discussion was the proposed change to the short title of the "Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act" (Bill S-7). Senator Salma Ataullahjan supported the amendment to change the short title, agreeing that while specific acts can be called barbaric, an entire culture cannot. She affirmed support for the original bill's provisions aimed at upholding Canadian values like gender equality and consensual marriage, and stated the importance of clearly communicating the intent of laws to new Canadians. The debate also touched on broader themes like Canada's multiculturalism and the need to uphold Canadian values. The record also includes discussions on other unrelated matters, such as wildfires in Fort McMurray, mental health, bladder cancer awareness, and various foreign affairs and domestic policy issues raised during Question Period, as well as a debate on a different bill (Bill S-214) concerning cruelty-free cosmetics.

The Senate convened on September 28, 2016. The sitting included Senators' Statements where various senators spoke on topics such as the leadership of Senate Liberals, the rebuilding of Fort McMurray, the achievements of Paralympic swimmer Katarina Roxon, the induction of Senator Jacques Demers into the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame, and the twentieth anniversary of the Arctic Council. Routine Proceedings included the tabling of reports and notices of inquiries. Question Period covered a range of government policy areas, including health transfer payments, the closure of western feedlots, consultation on natural resource development, the appointment process for Supreme Court justices, and the softwood lumber agreement. The Orders of the Day saw several bills at various stages of reading, including Bill S-210, which is an Act to amend An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Civil Marriage Act and the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts. Debate on Bill S-210 was continued and then adjourned. Several committee activities were also authorized. The sitting concluded with the adjournment of debate on a motion regarding the Special Senate Committee on Senate Modernization.

This document records the proceedings of the Senate on November 22, 2016. The Senate discussed various matters including tabling of reports, introducing new bills, and debating ongoing legislation. Notably, a debate continued on Bill S-210, "An Act to amend An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Civil Marriage Act and the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts." Senator Percy Mockler moved to adjourn the debate on Bill S-210, which was agreed to, meaning the debate on this bill was postponed to a later date. The document also includes discussions on other bills, committee reports, and questions raised by senators to the government representative.

This is a record of a Senate sitting on January 31, 2017. The sitting began with a silent tribute to the victims of the attack at the Centre Islamique de Québec. Senators then held tributes for Senator John D. Wallace, who was retiring, and heard statements on other topics. The Senate also adopted a motion to adjust the timing of Question Period. During Orders of the Day, the Senate adopted the fifth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications concerning Bill S-2, and debate continued on Bill S-210 (An Act to amend An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Civil Marriage Act and the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts), with the debate being adjourned. Debate also adjourned on other bills and committee reports. Question Period included discussions on a military technology review, internal trade, innovation centres, support for former Nortel employees, remote digital connectivity, access to security resources for places of worship, the auto industry, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Following Question Period, the Senate adopted a motion concerning a commemorative medal for the 150th anniversary of Confederation and a motion to encourage the evaluation of a national basic income program. Debates also continued on the softwood lumber crisis and the human rights implications of climate change.

This document records the proceedings of the Senate on February 1, 2017. The sitting included Senators' Statements on various topics, Routine Proceedings where notices of motions and first readings of bills were presented, and Question Period where senators asked questions of the Government Representative on diverse issues including electoral reform, census data, lobbying, agricultural concerns, family reunification, energy projects, internal trade, and drug decriminalization. The 'Orders of the Day' section details the progress of several bills and committee reports, including the second reading and referral to committee of Bill S-210, An Act to amend An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Civil Marriage Act and the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts. The sitting concluded with a motion to adjourn.

On October 5, 2017, the Senate of Canada met. During this sitting, the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology presented its seventeenth report regarding Bill S-210, An Act to amend An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Civil Marriage Act and the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts. The committee reported that the bill had been examined and was presented without amendment. The Senate then placed the bill on the Orders of the Day for third reading at the next sitting. The sitting also included discussions on various other matters, including tributes to late senators, parliamentary budget officer reports, and debates on other bills and motions.

On October 31, 2017, the Senate sat, with the Speaker in the chair. The sitting included Senators' Statements, Routine Proceedings, Question Period, and Orders of the Day. During Senators' Statements, tributes were paid to the late Honourable P. Michael Pitfield, and other topics like Patient Safety Week, the Indian Act, legalization of cannabis, and achievements in sports and history were discussed. Routine Proceedings involved the tabling of various committee reports and the first reading of a bill to amend the Criminal Code and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Question Period saw the Minister of National Defence answer questions on a range of topics including aircraft procurement, peacekeeping operations, and sexual misconduct within the Canadian Armed Forces. The Orders of the Day included continued debates on several bills, including Bill S-210, An Act to amend An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Civil Marriage Act and the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, which was at third reading. The debate on Bill S-210 focused on repealing the short title "Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act" to remove potentially stigmatizing language. Other debates included Bill S-219 concerning sanctions against Iran, and various committee reports and inquiries.

On November 7, 2017, the Senate held a sitting that included a moment of silence for the victims of a shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Senators also commemorated the 150th anniversary of the Senate's first sitting, with several senators reflecting on the institution's role in Canadian democracy, its history of representing minorities and regions, and the importance of independent deliberation. The sitting also involved routine proceedings where various reports were tabled, including those from the Parliamentary Budget Officer and the Ombudsman for National Defence. Question Period addressed topics such as cybersecurity, military justice, advance directives, and amendments to the Indian Act. The Senate then moved to Orders of the Day, where debate continued on amendments to the Indian Act (Bill S-3), the Criminal Code, and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, Civil Marriage Act, and Criminal Code (Bill S-210). Debates on other bills and inquiries were also adjourned or continued. The sitting concluded with the adoption of a motion concerning committee membership.

On November 8, 2017, the Senate continued its debate on Bill S-210. The bill aims to amend previous legislation concerning immigration, marriage, and the criminal code. The debate focused on the potential repeal of the short title "Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act." Senators discussed concerns that the short title might unfairly target specific cultures and create a division between "us" and "them." They argued that the language used in the title could imply that certain crimes are less serious than others and that it unfairly places blame on entire cultures rather than individuals. The debate also touched on the importance of carefully chosen words in legislation and their power to either unite or divide people. The Senators supporting the bill argued that removing the short title would not change the content or enforcement of the Act, but would address problematic and divisive language.

On November 28, 2017, the Senate met. The day's proceedings included statements honouring individuals, tabling committee reports, introducing new bills, continuing debates on ongoing legislation, and a period for questions directed to a government minister. A significant portion of the debate focused on Bill S-210, which aimed to repeal the short title "Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act." Senators discussed concerns that the original title was divisive and targeted specific cultural groups, while the substance of the bill aimed to address issues like polygamy and forced marriage. The government expressed support for Bill S-210 to remove the inflammatory language. Another substantial debate involved Bill C-277, concerning a framework for palliative care in Canada. Senators discussed the importance of equitable access, the role of hospices, and the need for public awareness and education on palliative care. An amendment was proposed to explicitly include public education and awareness measures in the bill. Additionally, there was discussion and debate on Bill S-203 (ending the captivity of whales and dolphins), Bill S-243 (reporting on unpaid income tax), Bill C-311 (Remembrance Day as a legal holiday), and a report on integrating automation in healthcare. Question Period involved discussions on the Prime Minister's travel and ethics, a report by the Parliamentary Budget Officer, budget implementation, support for artists, small business tax regimes, the foreign convention and tour incentive program, policy communication for newcomers, support for Indigenous and racialized women entrepreneurs, and tourism with China.

On November 30, 2017, the Senate debated Bill S-210, an act to amend previous legislation concerning immigration, marriage, and criminal law. The debate occurred during the third reading stage of the bill. A senator spoke in support of the bill, noting that it is a symbolic amendment to change the short title of a previous bill (Bill S-7, the "zero tolerance for barbaric cultural practices act"). The senator explained that while the original bill aimed to protect vulnerable individuals and promote Canadian values, its short title was divisive and stigmatizing to minority communities. The proposed change in the short title aims to remove this divisiveness and ensure that the focus remains on individual responsibility rather than cultural groups. The debate was adjourned after this speech.

On December 11, 2017, the Senate convened for its third reading debate on Bill S-210. The sitting included routine proceedings such as tabling of reports, notices of motions, and adoption of motions regarding committee sittings and media coverage. A significant portion of the sitting involved a Committee of the Whole hearing to receive testimony from Pierre Legault regarding his appointment as Senate Ethics Officer. The Senate also debated and adopted a motion concerning the Statutes Repeal Act, which involved discussing numerous acts and provisions that would not be repealed. Finally, the Senate proceeded with the third reading of Bill S-210, which involved a debate on removing the short title of the "Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act." The bill was ultimately passed, on division.