Bill C-17 explained in plain English

On December 8, 2020, the Senate of Canada convened for a sitting where several procedural matters and debates took place. The Senate received messages from the House of Commons regarding Appropriation Bill No. 4, 2020-21, and Appropriation Bill No. 5, 2020-21, and gave them first reading. Senators also made statements on various topics including World Soil Day, the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women, Ovarian Cancer Canada, street renaming in Puslinch, Ontario, and gender parity in the Senate. Routine proceedings included the tabling of committee reports and notices of motions on various subjects. Question Period addressed fiscal updates, the cost of hybrid sittings, COVID-19 vaccine rollout, prevention of violence against women, support for the agricultural sector, disaster mitigation, and Huawei's involvement in 5G technology. Several bills were at various stages of debate, including those related to the Offshore Health and Safety Act, the Judges Act and Criminal Code, the voting age, the establishment of a Commissioner for Children and Youth, and modern slavery. There was also a debate on a motion to authorize a committee to study the government's decision to award a contract to WE Charity. A motion to condemn actions against the Republic of Artsakh was negatived, and a motion to adjourn the Senate was also negatived. The sitting concluded with a reminder of the Senate's adjournment until the next day.

This document details a Senate sitting on December 9, 2020. The sitting included "Senators' Statements" where members spoke about the Canadian Armed Forces' role during the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian artists, and a new university chancellor. There was also a "Point of Order" regarding the appropriateness of discussing Senate business during Senators' Statements, which the Speaker ruled on. "Routine Proceedings" saw committee reports tabled. "Question Period" covered topics such as the cost of hybrid sittings, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), the icebreaker fleet, the persecution of the Bahá’í minority in Iran, Canada-China relations and security, and child cybersex trafficking. The "Orders of the Day" included the adoption of the National Finance Committee's report on the Main and Supplementary Estimates for 2020-21. The Senate then proceeded to second reading of Bill C-16 and Bill C-17, both concerning granting sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021. During the debate on Bill C-17, a motion in amendment was introduced, proposing to delay the bill's second reading due to concerns about insufficient measures to reduce poverty. This motion was debated, with arguments made both for and against it, and the sitting concluded before a final decision was reached on the amendment or the bill itself.

This record details the Senate's second reading debate of Bill C-17. The debate included discussions on the Canadian Armed Forces' role in the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of recent losses in the arts community, and the appointment of Graydon Nicholas as Chancellor of St. Thomas University. A point of order was raised and a ruling was given concerning Senator Colin Deacon's speech on consumer-directed finance. There was also a debate on the cost of hybrid Senate sittings and questions regarding the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). Other discussions included the icebreaker fleet, the persecution of the Bahá’í minority in Iran, Canada-China relations and security, and child cybersex trafficking. The Senate also adopted the second report of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance regarding Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (B) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021. A motion in amendment was proposed to Bill C-17, suggesting that the bill does not include sufficient expenditure to reduce the effects of poverty in Canada. This amendment was debated, with arguments made both for and against its adoption.

On December 10, 2020, the Senate of Canada convened for a sitting that included routine proceedings, question period, and orders of the day. The sitting featured debates and discussions on various topics, including tributes to individuals, ongoing national and international issues, and the consideration of several bills. Notably, the Senate debated Bill C-17, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021. A motion in amendment to Bill C-17, aiming to address poverty, was debated extensively and ultimately negatived. Bill C-17 subsequently proceeded to third reading and was adopted. Other proceedings included the first reading of a bill to amend the Criminal Code, and debates and final readings of other appropriation bills. The sitting also included the adoption of a motion related to the Statutes Repeal Act, authorizing the continuation of certain acts and provisions that had not yet come into force. Tributes were paid to former Senator Lillian Eva Dyck upon her retirement, acknowledging her contributions and legacy.

On December 10, 2020, the Senate debated Bill C-17, an act granting funds for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021. During the second reading debate, a motion in amendment was proposed to delay the bill's passage due to concerns about insufficient spending to reduce poverty, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This amendment was debated by several senators, with arguments focusing on the Senate's constitutional role in financial matters and the appropriateness of using a reasoned amendment to effectively 'kill' a supply bill. Ultimately, the motion in amendment was negatived. Following this, the Senate proceeded to the main motion for second reading of Bill C-17, which was agreed to. The bill then moved to third reading, where further debate occurred, including discussions on the details of the proposed expenditures, the transparency of COVID-19 related spending, and the allocation of funds for specific programs. The bill was ultimately passed at third reading.

This artifact is a record of debate from the Senate of Canada on December 10, 2020. It concerns Bill C-17, an Act for granting certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021. During the debate, a "reasoned amendment" was proposed by Senator Pate to essentially block the bill, arguing it did not include sufficient spending to reduce poverty, which had been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Senators debated the procedural implications and constitutionality of using a reasoned amendment to reject a supply bill, with many arguing it overstepped the Senate's role. Ultimately, the amendment was defeated, and the bill proceeded to third reading. The debate also included discussions on the government's spending plans related to COVID-19, including funding for vaccine research, protective gear, and support for provinces and territories. Finally, the bill received Royal Assent on the same day.

On December 10, 2020, the Senate of Canada held its third reading debate for Bill C-17, an act to grant funds for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021. The Senate also debated a motion in amendment to the bill, which was ultimately negatived. Following this, the bill was read a second time, and then passed at third reading. The sitting also included Senators' Statements on various topics, Question Period where senators asked questions of the Government Representative, and the tabling of committee reports. In addition, the Senate debated and passed a motion related to the Statutes Repeal Act, a motion to authorize a committee to meet during sittings and adjournments, and adopted a report from the Committee of Selection. The Senate also began a debate on an inquiry into the career of former Senator Lillian Eva Dyck, and the sitting concluded with Royal Assent being signified for Bills C-17 and C-16.

This Senate sitting on December 10, 2020, involved the third reading debate and passage of Bill C-17, an appropriation bill for federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021. The sitting also included discussions on various other matters, including tributes to individuals, committee reports, notices of motions, and question period addressing topics such as Canada-China relations, NAV CANADA, the charitable sector, the dairy industry, and COVID-19 vaccine rollouts. A significant portion of the debate focused on a proposed amendment to Bill C-17, which was ultimately negatived. The Senate also passed Bill C-16 and proceeded with other Senate business, including motions related to repealing certain acts and committee operations, and concluded with royal assent being given to Bill C-17 and Bill C-16.

This artifact is a record of the Senate's third reading debate on Bill C-17. The debate focused on the procedural aspects of the bill, specifically a proposed amendment that aimed to delay the bill's passage until the government addressed poverty reduction. Senators debated the Senate's constitutional role in financial matters and the appropriateness of using a "reasoned amendment" to effectively block a supply bill. Ultimately, the amendment was defeated, and the bill proceeded to its final reading and passage. The artifact also includes a comprehensive speech by Senator Gagné detailing the government's spending plans within the bill, focusing on COVID-19 related expenditures and other departmental funding. Additionally, Senator Marshall provided a critical analysis of the transparency and tracking of government spending, particularly concerning COVID-19 initiatives. Senator Galvez raised concerns about the allocation of funds to the fossil fuel industry for well remediation, arguing it lacked transparency and adherence to the "polluter-pays" principle.