Bill S-233 explained in plain English
An Act to amend the Customs Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (presentation and reporting requirements)
Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Parliament of Canada snapshot for 42nd Parliament, 1st 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
Bill S-233 amends the Customs Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to modernize presentation and reporting requirements for conveyances, providing specific exemptions for transiting or temporarily departing and re-entering travellers and goods, while allowing officers to override these exemptions and adding new regulation-making powers.
Bill S-233, also known as the Conveyance Presentation and Reporting Requirements Modernization Act, makes changes to the Customs Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. It aims to modernize requirements for presenting and reporting goods and people on conveyances entering or leaving Canada. Specifically, it provides exemptions for certain individuals and goods travelling on conveyances that are transiting through Canadian waters or airspace without landing, or that leave and re-enter Canada without landing outside of Canada. However, these exemptions can be overridden if a customs officer requires compliance. The bill also introduces new regulation-making authorities to define terms and specify conditions for these exemptions. Additionally, it modifies the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to allow for exemptions from examination for individuals entering Canada, while also preserving an officer's power to require an examination. A coordinating amendment is included to address potential changes to the Customs Act if Bill C-21 also receives Royal Assent.
- Amends the Customs Act to provide exemptions from presentation and reporting requirements for certain individuals and goods on board conveyances that enter Canadian waters or airspace directly from outside Canada and then leave, or that leave Canadian waters or airspace and then re-enter Canada, provided they do not land in Canada (or outside Canada for the latter case) and the conveyance meets specific conditions.
- Allows a customs officer to require individuals or goods to comply with presentation and reporting requirements even if they are otherwise exempt under the new provisions.
- Adds regulation-making authority to the Customs Act to define terms such as 'make contact with another conveyance' and to prescribe circumstances for exemptions and reporting requirements.
- Amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to allow for regulations that may exempt certain persons or categories of persons from the requirement to appear for an examination to determine their right to enter or remain in Canada.
- Maintains the authority of an officer under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to require a person to appear for an examination, even if they are otherwise exempt by regulation.
- Includes a coordinating amendment that modifies reporting requirements for exported goods under the Customs Act if Bill C-21 also receives Royal Assent and comes into force.
- Individuals entering or leaving Canada on board conveyances (ships, aircraft, etc.)
- Goods being imported or exported on board conveyances
- Customs officers
- Immigration officers
- The Governor in Council (in relation to making regulations)
- Individuals and goods may be exempt from presentation and reporting requirements under specific conditions related to transit or temporary departure and re-entry.
- Customs officers retain the right to require presentation and reporting from individuals and for goods, overriding exemptions.
- Individuals seeking to enter Canada must generally appear for an examination, but regulations may exempt them, subject to an officer's discretion.
- The coordinating amendment (Section 7) comes into force on the first day on which both Section 3 of Bill S-233 and Section 4 of Bill C-21 are in force, provided Bill C-21 receives Royal Assent.
- The bill does not appear to introduce new taxes or fees, but changes reporting requirements which could indirectly affect compliance costs for businesses.
- The bill text does not specify new penalties for non-compliance; existing penalties under the Customs Act and Immigration and Refugee Protection Act would likely apply.
- The specific conditions under which exemptions apply, particularly regarding 'making contact with another conveyance' or what constitutes 'landing', will be defined by regulations.
- The full impact of the coordinating amendment depends on the contents and commencement of Bill C-21.
- The bill does not detail the types of conveyances that these provisions apply to beyond mentioning aircraft and other conveyances.
Modifies sections related to entry and departure requirements for persons and goods on conveyances, and adds new regulation-making powers.
Source: Sections 2, 3, 4
Changes examination requirements for individuals entering Canada by adding regulation-making powers for exemptions and retaining an officer's authority to require an examination.
Source: Sections 5, 6
Contingent on Bill C-21 receiving Royal Assent, this section replaces subsections related to the reporting of exported goods with new provisions and exceptions.
Source: Section 7
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-233, concerning presentation and reporting requirements, completed its first reading in the Senate on December 8, 2016, and later received Royal Assent on June 19, 2017.
Bill S-233 went through its first reading in the Senate on December 8, 2016. This is the initial stage where the bill is formally introduced. The bill later received Royal Assent on June 19, 2017, becoming law as part of Statutes of Canada 2017, chapter 11.
During a Senate sitting on December 8, 2016, Bill S-233, concerning amendments to the Customs Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, was introduced and received its first reading.
On December 8, 2016, during the Senate sitting, Senator Bob Runciman introduced Bill S-233, "An Act to amend the Customs Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (presentation and reporting requirements)." This marked the first reading of the bill in the Senate. The sitting also included various other proceedings, such as the presentation of committee reports, notices of motions, and debates on other bills.
The Senate completed the second reading stage of Bill S-233 on February 1, 2017, after which it proceeded to committee study, eventually receiving Royal Assent on June 19, 2017.
This record describes the second reading stage of Bill S-233 in the Senate on February 1, 2017. This stage involves a debate where senators discuss the bill's principles and purpose. Following this stage, the bill was considered in committee. The artifact indicates that the bill eventually received Royal Assent on June 19, 2017, becoming chapter 11 of the Statutes of Canada 2017. The record shows speeches were made at this stage by Senator Bob Runciman and Senator George Baker.
The Senate held a sitting on January 31, 2017, which included a silent tribute to victims of the Quebec City mosque attack, tributes to a retiring senator, and continued debate on several bills and motions, including Bill S-233 concerning customs and immigration reporting requirements.
On January 31, 2017, the Senate convened. The sitting began with a silent tribute to the victims of the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre attack. Following this, the Senate recognized a visiting Speaker from British Columbia and adjusted the order of business to allow for tributes to Senator John D. Wallace, who was retiring. The Senate then proceeded with various items of business, including adopting the fifth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications concerning Bill S-2, continuing debate on Bill S-210, and adjourning debate on Bill S-233. Question Period took place with the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. The Senate also adopted a motion regarding a commemorative medal for the 150th anniversary of Confederation and continued debate on motions concerning a national basic income program and the softwood lumber crisis. The sitting concluded with various inquiries and debates.
During a Senate sitting that included tributes and farewells, Bill S-233, aimed at amending customs and immigration reporting requirements, was introduced and debated, after which the discussion was adjourned.
This record details a Senate sitting where, in addition to tributes to victims of a tragic attack in Quebec City and farewells to a retiring senator, Bill S-233, concerning presentation and reporting requirements for customs and immigration, was introduced for debate. Senator Bob Runciman spoke in favour of the bill, explaining its purpose and the circumstances that led to its introduction. The debate was then adjourned.
During a Senate sitting on February 1, 2017, senators discussed various issues, advanced several bills including Bill S-233 concerning customs and immigration reporting, and debated Senate modernization.
This Senate sitting on February 1, 2017, included proceedings such as Senators' Statements on various topics including the Quebec City mosque attack and Black History Month. Routine Proceedings saw notices of motions and the first reading of a House of Commons bill concerning the disposal of mercury-containing lamps. Question Period addressed topics like electoral reform, census data, lobbying, bovine tuberculosis, family reunification, the Energy East pipeline, internal trade barriers, and drug decriminalization. The 'Orders of the Day' section shows several bills at various stages, including Bill S-233, An Act to amend the Customs Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (presentation and reporting requirements), which was read a second time and referred to committee. Other business included debates on Senate modernization reports and other bills.
During the second reading debate of Bill S-233, Senator Baker explained the bill's intent to simplify customs reporting for certain cross-border conveyances and shared historical legal context, after which the Senate referred the bill to committee.
This document is a record of the Senate's debate at the second reading of Bill S-233, An Act to amend the Customs Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (presentation and reporting requirements). Senator George Baker spoke in favour of the bill, explaining its purpose to exempt occupants of a conveyance that enters Canadian waters or airspace and returns to the U.S. without stopping in Canada from reporting requirements. He detailed the legal history and court decisions that led to the current complexities in customs reporting, particularly for watercraft. Senator Baker highlighted that the bill aims to resolve a legal problem that has existed since 1985 and expressed gratitude for the cooperation from the offices of the Minister of Public Safety, Senator Harder, and the Canada Border Services Agency. The Senate agreed to send the bill to the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence for further study.
The Senate completed its committee stage for Bill S-233 on April 5, 2017, before the bill later received royal assent.
This artifact describes the Senate's consideration of Bill S-233 in committee. The committee met on April 5, 2017, and this stage was completed on that date. The bill eventually received royal assent on June 19, 2017.
The Senate met on April 5, 2017, where the Eighth Report of the National Security and Defence Committee on Bill S-233 was presented, and extensive debates occurred on Bills C-4 and C-6.
On April 5, 2017, the Senate convened for a sitting that included tributes, discussions on various topics, and the presentation of committee reports. Notably, the Senate received the Eighth Report of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence concerning Bill S-233, an act to amend the Customs Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act regarding presentation and reporting requirements. The report was presented by Senator Mobina S. B. Jaffer, and the Senate agreed to consider it at the next sitting. The sitting also featured debates on other bills, specifically Bill C-4 concerning the Canada Labour Code and Bill C-6 concerning the Citizenship Act, with proposed amendments and extensive discussion. Several senators spoke on these bills, debating their principles and specific clauses, including amendments related to union certification processes and citizenship language requirements for older applicants.
The Senate completed its Report stage for Bill S-233 on April 6, 2017.
On April 6, 2017, the Senate completed the Report stage for Bill S-233. This stage is where the Senate reviews a bill after it has been considered by a committee, and can propose further amendments.
This Senate sitting on April 6, 2017, included the adoption of amendments to Bill S-233, which deals with customs and immigration reporting requirements, alongside other legislative and procedural business.
On April 6, 2017, the Senate convened for a sitting that included Senators' Statements, Routine Proceedings, Question Period, and Orders of the Day. The specific artifact provided pertains to the Senate's consideration of Bill S-233 at the Report Stage. The record shows that the Senate adopted the eighth report of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence concerning Bill S-233, which proposed amendments to the Customs Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act regarding presentation and reporting requirements. The sitting also included debates and proceedings on various other bills and committee reports.
Bill S-233 successfully completed its third reading in the Senate on April 11, 2017, prior to receiving Royal Assent.
This record indicates that Bill S-233 completed its third reading in the Senate on April 11, 2017. This stage is a procedural step where the Senate formally approves a bill after considering amendments. The bill later received Royal Assent on June 19, 2017.
The Senate debated and passed Bill S-233 at third reading, amending the Customs Act and Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to simplify reporting requirements for boaters in Canadian waters while maintaining border security.
The Senate continued its third reading debate on Bill S-233, an Act to amend the Customs Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (presentation and reporting requirements). The bill aims to simplify reporting requirements for boaters entering Canadian waters without landing, anchoring, or mooring. Senators discussed the importance of balancing border security with ease of movement for recreational boaters and the potential economic impact on tourism in border communities. Amendments were considered to extend the exemption to direct point-A-to-point-B travel and "loop movements" (starting and finishing from the same spot) for boaters, as well as to international waters, to address concerns from both the Canada Border Services Agency and the public.
This artifact documents the procedural step of first reading for Bill S-233 in the House of Commons on May 3, 2017, prior to the bill receiving royal assent.
This record describes the first reading of Bill S-233 in the House of Commons on May 3, 2017. First reading is a procedural step where a bill is introduced and printed. It is the first formal step in the House of Commons for a bill that has already been before the Senate. The bill ultimately received royal assent on June 19, 2017, becoming a statute.
During the first reading of Bill S-233 in the House of Commons on May 3, 2017, the sitting primarily involved procedural matters and debates on unrelated topics, with no specific discussion of the bill itself documented in this record.
On May 3, 2017, Bill S-233, concerning amendments to the Customs Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, was introduced in the House of Commons for its first reading. The Hansard record indicates that this stage was completed and consisted primarily of procedural activities, including the introduction of new members and various debates and discussions on unrelated matters. The artifact does not contain details of the bill's content or any debate specifically about it during this stage.
On May 18, 2017, the House of Commons completed the second reading of Bill S-233, agreeing to it and referring it to committee, after which it later received Royal Assent.
This artifact records that Bill S-233 completed its second reading stage in the House of Commons on May 18, 2017. This stage involves major speeches related to the bill. Following this, the bill was referred to a committee for consideration. The bill eventually received Royal Assent on June 19, 2017, becoming chapter 11 of the Statutes of Canada 2017.
The House of Commons debated Bill S-233, which proposes to amend the Customs Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act regarding presentation and reporting requirements.
On May 18, 2017, the House of Commons debated Bill S-233, concerning amendments to the Customs Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act related to presentation and reporting requirements. The debate at this stage focused on procedural matters and discussions about the bill's purpose, rather than its passage or implementation.
During the second reading debate of Bill S-233, the sponsor argued for modernizing outdated regulations on small pleasure craft reporting requirements to improve Canada-U.S. relations and tourism.
During the second reading debate of Bill S-233 in the House of Commons on May 18, 2017, the sponsor of the bill, Mr. Gordon Brown (CPC), explained the bill's purpose. He stated that the bill aims to amend the Customs Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to allow small pleasure craft to enter Canadian waters freely, provided they do not intend to anchor or come ashore. He highlighted that current regulations, dating back to the prohibition era, impose harsh penalties, including vessel seizure and large fines, on American boaters who inadvertently cross into Canadian waters. He argued that these regulations are outdated, inconsistently applied, and harm Canada's relationship with the United States and its tourism industry. The speech also included personal anecdotes from constituents and media reports illustrating the negative impact of these rules. The debate also involved other members from various parties who spoke on the bill's merits and its potential to strengthen Canada-U.S. relations and boost tourism.
During a House of Commons debate on May 18, 2017, Members of Parliament discussed a motion to fund a Canadian Autism Partnership, with the opposition strongly advocating for the funding and the government outlining existing investments and ongoing assessments.
This document contains a debate from the House of Commons on May 18, 2017, regarding an opposition motion calling for the government to provide $19 million over five years to establish a Canadian Autism Partnership. The motion proposed that this partnership would support families and address key issues such as information sharing, research, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Several Members of Parliament, particularly from the opposition, spoke in favour of the motion, highlighting the increasing prevalence of ASD, the challenges faced by individuals and families, and the potential benefits of a coordinated national approach. They also contrasted the requested funding with other government spending, such as the bailout of Bombardier. Members of the government spoke about existing investments in autism research, data collection, and accessibility initiatives, while generally stating that the government was assessing the proposal and would continue to work with stakeholders. The debate also included discussions on other unrelated matters such as the appointment of the Commissioner of Official Languages, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the carbon tax, and changes to the Customs Act and Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Bill S-233).
During the second reading debate on Bill S-233 in the House of Commons, members from all major parties discussed the urgent need for federal government funding and a national strategy to support individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families, highlighting the Canadian Autism Partnership's proposal for $19 million in funding.
This House of Commons debate from May 18, 2017, occurred during the second reading stage of Bill S-233. Members from various parties, including the Official Opposition (Conservative), the New Democratic Party (NDP), and the governing Liberal Party, participated in the discussion. The primary focus was on the need for increased government funding and a national strategy to support individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. Several members shared personal experiences and highlighted the challenges faced by those with ASD, including difficulties with early diagnosis, access to treatment, employment, and housing. The debate frequently referenced the Canadian Autism Partnership (CAP) proposal, which requested $19 million over five years to establish a national partnership for information sharing, research, and improved diagnosis and treatment. Many members expressed disappointment that this funding was not included in the 2017 federal budget, contrasting it with other government spending. The overarching theme was the urgent need for coordinated federal action and investment to address the growing prevalence and complex needs associated with autism.
The House of Commons completed its committee consideration of Bill S-233 on June 8, 2017.
This record describes the 'Consideration in committee' stage for Bill S-233 in the House of Commons, which occurred on June 8, 2017. This stage is part of the legislative process where a bill is examined in detail by a committee. The record indicates that this stage was completed.
This House of Commons Hansard record from June 8, 2017, primarily details procedural activities including the presentation of a committee report with an amendment on Bill S-233, alongside debates on other legislative matters and routine proceedings.
This House of Commons Hansard record from June 8, 2017, details proceedings related to Bill S-233. The primary procedural event discussed was the presentation of a committee report on Bill S-233, which included an amendment. The record also includes debates on routine proceedings, government orders (including the Cannabis Act and Salaries Act), and private members' business, as well as statements by members and points of order. The discussions on Bill S-233 itself were limited, as the record focuses on procedural matters rather than the substantive content of the bill.
The House of Commons completed report and third reading for Bill S-233 on June 12, 2017, after which the Senate concurred with its amendments on June 13, 2017, leading to royal assent.
The House of Commons completed its report stage for Bill S-233 on June 12, 2017. This stage allows for further examination and potential amendments to the bill after it has been considered in committee. Following this, the House of Commons proceeded to third reading on the same day. The bill then moved to the Senate, where House of Commons amendments were considered and concurred with on June 13, 2017. The bill ultimately received royal assent on June 19, 2017, becoming a statute.
The House of Commons sitting on June 12, 2017, saw the approval of Bill S-233 at report stage, followed by debates on economic and disarmament motions, routine proceedings including petitions, oral question period covering a range of government actions, and adjournment debates on defence, fisheries, and immigration.
This record details a sitting of the House of Commons on June 12, 2017. The House considered and approved Bill S-233 at its report stage, moving it forward for third reading and passage. The sitting also included debates on various government orders, including motions related to the Canadian economy and nuclear disarmament, as well as routine proceedings such as the presentation of committee reports and petitions, and oral questions on diverse topics from taxation to international trade. The sitting concluded with adjournment proceedings on national defence, fisheries and oceans, and immigration, refugees and citizenship.
The House of Commons completed third reading of Bill S-233, followed by the Senate's concurrence with amendments, leading to the bill receiving royal assent.
This record indicates that the House of Commons completed its third reading of Bill S-233 on June 12, 2017. Following this, messages were exchanged between the House of Commons and the Senate regarding amendments. The Senate considered and concurred with the House of Commons amendments on June 13, 2017. The bill ultimately received royal assent on June 19, 2017.
On June 12, 2017, the House of Commons debated and passed Bill S-233 at its third reading stage.
The House of Commons debated and approved Bill S-233 at its third reading on June 12, 2017. This stage of the parliamentary process involved discussions among members about the bill's contents and its procedural progression.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Debates of the Senate 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 does not have a published recorded division in the current official sources, so representative-by-representative vote counts are not shown.
No published representative vote breakdown
The current official sources do not publish a recorded division breakdown for this bill, so there is no representative-by-representative table to show.
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