Bill S-203 explained in plain English
An Act to amend the National Capital Act (buildings or works of national significance)
Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Parliament of Canada snapshot for 43rd 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
This bill amends the National Capital Act to define buildings and works of national significance and to set new requirements for construction and alteration projects near these sites.
Bill S-203, titled "An Act to amend the National Capital Act (buildings or works of national significance)", proposes changes to the National Capital Act. The bill aims to establish specific requirements for erecting, altering, extending, or demolishing certain buildings or works within the National Capital Region. It defines what constitutes a "building or work of national significance" and introduces new rules for projects located near these significant sites. Additionally, it mandates that any such construction or alteration must adhere to certain conservation standards, particularly for national historic sites.
- Amends the National Capital Act to define what a "building or work of national significance" is.
- Adds a requirement that if a government department or person plans to erect, alter, extend, or demolish a building or work within 500 meters of a "building or work of national significance" in the National Capital Region, their proposal must be submitted for approval.
- Requires that any erection, alteration, or extension of a "building or work of national significance" in the National Capital Region must follow the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada.
- Requires that any alteration or extension to a national historic site must be done in a way that preserves its commemorative integrity.
- Grants the Governor in Council the authority to make regulations related to the Act.
- Government departments
- Persons undertaking construction or demolition projects in the National Capital Region
- The National Capital Commission
- Owners and managers of buildings and works of national significance
- Owners and managers of national historic sites
- Obligation to submit proposals for approval if erecting, altering, extending, or demolishing a building or work within 500 meters of a 'building or work of national significance'.
- Obligation to carry out the erection, alteration, or extension of a 'building or work of national significance' in a manner consistent with the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada.
- Obligation to preserve the commemorative integrity of a national historic site when altering or extending it.
- The bill defines specific buildings and grounds as 'buildings or works of national significance' but also includes 'any prescribed building or work,' meaning specific additional sites could be defined later through regulations.
- The exact content of the 'Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada' and how they will be applied is not detailed within the bill itself.
- The bill does not specify the process or criteria for the approval of proposals by the National Capital Commission mentioned in amended subsection 12(1).
Adds a definition for 'building or work of national significance' to Section 2 of the Act.
Source: Section 1 of the Bill
Adds a condition to subsection 12(1) requiring proposals for erecting, altering, extending, or demolishing buildings or works within 500 meters of a 'building or work of national significance' to be submitted for approval by the National Capital Commission.
Source: Section 2 of the Bill
Inserts Section 12.3, which mandates that any erection, alteration, or extension of a 'building or work of national significance' must comply with the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada, and that alterations or extensions to national historic sites must preserve their commemorative integrity.
Source: Section 3 of the Bill
Adds subsection 20(3) to allow the Governor in Council to make regulations prescribing matters as required by the Act.
Source: Section 4 of the Bill
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-203, concerning national significance buildings and works, completed its first reading in the Senate on December 10, 2019, and is now at the second reading stage.
Bill S-203, which aims to amend the National Capital Act regarding buildings or works of national significance, had its first reading in the Senate on December 10, 2019. The bill is currently at the second reading stage in the Senate. A speech by Senator Serge Joyal was made during the second reading debate on December 12, 2019.
On December 10, 2019, the Senate of Canada proceeded with the first reading of Bill S-203, an Act to amend the National Capital Act, alongside other routine proceedings and discussions.
On December 10, 2019, the Senate of Canada held its first reading for Bill S-203, an Act to amend the National Capital Act. This artifact details the proceedings of that day, including the introduction of the bill, which was presented by Senator Serge Joyal. The sitting also included other routine proceedings such as the tabling of various reports from parliamentary officers and committees, the introduction of other bills, and discussions on various notices of motion. The Senate also engaged in Question Period, where senators raised issues such as the representation of Western provinces in cabinet, the forestry sector, the regulation of vaping products, softwood lumber trade, climate change impacts, the charitable sector, detention of Canadians in China, and the legislative framework for First Nations policing. The artifact also includes statements from senators, welcoming remarks, and congratulations to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on their Grey Cup victory, as well as tributes to individuals who have passed away.
Bill S-203, concerning amendments to the National Capital Act, was at the second reading stage in the Senate, with debate taking place on December 12, 2019.
This record describes the status of Bill S-203 at the second reading stage in the Senate. The bill was introduced on December 10, 2019, and a debate occurred on December 12, 2019. The stage is not yet completed.
During a Senate sitting on December 12, 2019, Bill S-203 regarding the National Capital Act was moved for second reading and its debate was adjourned, alongside tributes to a retiring senator and other procedural business.
The Senate met on December 12, 2019. The primary procedural activity related to Bill S-203, an act to amend the National Capital Act, was that it was moved for second reading and the debate was adjourned. The rest of the sitting involved tributes to Senator Joseph A. Day who was retiring, statements on various topics, tabling of reports, introduction of a new bill (Bill S-207), and discussions on other legislative matters and government business. The sitting concluded with expressions of good wishes for the season and an adjournment until February 4, 2020.
The Senate debated other matters and adjourned the debate on Bill S-203 at the second reading stage.
On December 12, 2019, the Senate convened, and the discussion at the second reading stage of Bill S-203, An Act to amend the National Capital Act, was adjourned. The provided text primarily consists of tributes to Senator Joseph A. Day, who was retiring, and discussions on various other Senate business and reports. The actual debate on Bill S-203 is very brief within this transcript.
Bill S-203, concerning amendments to the National Capital Act, has reached the "Senate Third reading" stage but has not yet proceeded, with its latest activity being a second reading debate on December 12, 2019.
This artifact describes the legislative process for Bill S-203 in the Senate. The bill has reached the stage of "Senate Third reading" but this stage has not yet been reached. The latest activity shown is a debate at second reading on December 12, 2019, where Senator Serge Joyal delivered the sponsor's speech. The bill had its first reading on December 10, 2019.
This artifact shows that the First Reading stage for Bill S-203 in the House of Commons has not yet been reached, with the bill currently being at the Second Reading stage in the Senate.
The provided artifact describes the 'First reading' stage for Bill S-203 in the House of Commons. However, it explicitly states that this stage has 'Not reached'. The artifact indicates that the bill's current status is 'At second reading in the Senate', with the latest activity being a debate at second reading on Thursday, December 12, 2019, in the Senate. The first reading in the House of Commons was scheduled for Tuesday, December 10, 2019, but this stage has not yet occurred according to the artifact.
Bill S-203, an Act to amend the National Capital Act, has a stage in the House of Commons at Second reading marked as 'Not reached', while its overall status is currently 'At second reading in the Senate' following a debate on December 12, 2019.
The provided text indicates that Bill S-203, concerning amendments to the National Capital Act regarding buildings or works of national significance, has reached the 'House of Commons Second reading' stage. However, the status for this specific stage is marked as 'Not reached'. The bill's current overall status is 'At second reading in the Senate', with the latest activity being a debate at second reading in the Senate on December 12, 2019. The bill had its first reading on December 10, 2019.
The legislative process artifact indicates that the House of Commons Consideration in committee stage for Bill S-203 has not yet been reached, with the bill currently at second reading in the Senate following a debate on December 12, 2019.
This artifact describes a stage in the legislative process for Bill S-203, specifically 'House of Commons Consideration in committee'. However, the status indicates that this stage has 'Not reached'. The bill is currently 'At second reading in the Senate'. The latest activity noted was a debate at second reading in the Senate on Thursday, December 12, 2019, which included a sponsor's speech by Serge Joyal. The bill had its first reading on Tuesday, December 10, 2019.
Bill S-203 has reached the Report stage in the House of Commons, which has not yet occurred, and is currently at the Second reading stage in the Senate.
This artifact describes the procedural status of Bill S-203 in the House of Commons. Specifically, it notes that the bill has reached the 'Report stage' in the House of Commons but that this stage has not yet occurred. The artifact also indicates that the bill is currently at the 'Second reading' stage in the Senate. The latest recorded activity was a debate at second reading in the Senate on Thursday, December 12, 2019.
This procedural record indicates that Bill S-203 has not reached the Third Reading stage in the House of Commons, and its current overall status is Second Reading in the Senate.
This artifact describes the procedural stage of Bill S-203 in the House of Commons, specifically noting that the 'House of Commons Third reading' stage has not yet been reached. It indicates that the bill's current overall status is 'At second reading in the Senate,' with the latest activity being a debate at second reading in the Senate on Thursday, December 12, 2019. The first reading occurred on Tuesday, December 10, 2019, and the second reading debate was on Thursday, December 12, 2019, during Sitting 4.
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