Bill S-203 explained in plain English

On September 30, 2020, the Senate of Canada convened. During Routine Proceedings, Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne introduced Bill S-203, titled "An Act to restrict young persons’ online access to sexually explicit material." This marked the first reading of the bill in the Senate. Following this procedural step, the bill was placed on the Orders of the Day for its second reading, scheduled for two days later.

This artifact is a record of a Senate sitting on November 3, 2020. The sitting included a moment of silence for victims of tragedies in Quebec City and CFB Wainwright, discussions on how to conduct Senate sittings remotely, and various statements by senators on topics such as mental health, respect for official languages, and freedom of religion. The sitting also included routine proceedings, such as the presentation of committee reports and notices of motions. The agenda then moved to Question Period, where senators asked the Government Representative questions on various topics including AgriStability, de-escalation and anti-racism training, judicial appointments, and the conflict in Artsakh. The sitting concluded with debate on various "Orders of the Day," including the debate on Bill S-203, An Act to restrict young persons’ online access to sexually explicit material, which was adjourned.

This artifact contains the official record of a Senate debate on November 3, 2020. It includes tributes to victims of tragedies, discussions on various Senate business, and the beginning of the second reading debate for Bill S-203, An Act to restrict young persons’ online access to sexually explicit material. The sponsor of the bill, Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne, delivered a speech explaining the bill's purpose and provisions. Other Senate business discussed includes motions, questions raised during Question Period, and debates on other bills.

This Senate sitting record from November 17, 2020, shows the continuation of debate on Bill S-203, An Act to restrict young persons’ online access to sexually explicit material. The debate was continued, meaning it was not completed in this sitting. The record also includes proceedings on other matters, such as tributes to a retiring senator, discussions on international writers' rights, Prince Edward Island's "Famous Five" women leaders, diabetes awareness, veterans' contributions, systemic racism, tabling of committee reports, consideration of Bill C-9 (Income Tax Act amendments), and motions regarding hybrid committee meetings. Question Period addressed various government actions and policies, and other bills were introduced or debated. The sitting was ultimately suspended at 6 p.m. and resumed at 7 p.m. to continue proceedings.

This Senate record from November 17, 2020, details various proceedings and debates. A significant portion of the record involves discussions related to Bill C-9, concerning emergency rent and wage subsidies. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, appeared before the Senate in a Committee of the Whole to discuss the bill, answering questions about its provisions, financial implications, and the government's approach to economic support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other discussions included the retirement of Senator Norman E. Doyle, tributes to writers and artists, and debates on other bills such as Bill S-203 (restricting online access to sexually explicit material for young persons) and Bill S-205 (creating a Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate). The record also shows Question Period exchanges on various government actions and policies, and ongoing debates on motions concerning PTSD frameworks, resource extraction impacts, and Mi’kmaq treaty rights.

The Senate met on March 16, 2021. The sitting included Senators' Statements recognizing individuals and events, Routine Proceedings where committee reports were presented and bills were introduced, Question Period where senators asked questions of the Government Representative, and Orders of the Day where various bills were debated and proceeded through different stages. Notably, Bill S-203, concerning online access to sexually explicit material for young persons, was debated at second reading and referred to committee. Several other bills, including those related to international trade, employment insurance, and medical assistance in dying, were also discussed.

This artifact contains a record of proceedings in the Senate on March 16, 2021. It includes statements from senators paying tribute to individuals, the tabling of committee reports and petitions, the introduction of new bills, and debates on various pieces of legislation. Specifically, it details discussions on Bill S-203, An Act to restrict young persons’ online access to sexually explicit material, during its second reading debate in the Senate. The debate focused on the potential harms of online pornography on young people, particularly those in the LGBTQ2+ community, and how the bill aims to regulate access to such material. It also includes debates on other bills, including those related to medical assistance in dying (Bill C-7), trade agreements, employment insurance, and criminal code amendments. The artifact does not indicate a final decision or outcome for Bill S-203 at this stage; it was referred to committee for further study.

On June 15, 2021, the Senate of Canada met. During the sitting, the Senate presented the seventh report from the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs concerning Bill S-203, "An Act to restrict young persons’ online access to sexually explicit material." The report, which included amendments, was placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting. The Senate also heard tributes to departing pages and statements on various topics, including National Indigenous History Month, Deafblind Awareness Month, and other legislative matters.

On June 21, 2021, the Senate convened for a sitting that included routine proceedings, question period, and orders of the day. While Bill S-203 (An Act to restrict young persons’ online access to sexually explicit material) is listed among the Senate's business for consideration, the provided text of the sitting record does not contain any debate or procedural activity specifically related to this bill. Instead, the sitting was primarily occupied by statements from senators on various topics, the tabling of reports, the first reading of appropriation bills, question period concerning COVID-19 measures, international affairs, and social issues, and the consideration of several other bills at different stages.

On June 22, 2021, the Senate of Canada held a sitting that included various procedural matters, debates, and discussions. During this sitting, Bill S-203, "An Act to restrict young persons’ online access to sexually explicit material," was debated at its third reading stage and the debate was adjourned. Other items on the agenda included the tabling of committee reports, first readings of new bills, and ongoing debates on other legislative matters such as Bill C-218 and Bill C-208.

This document is a record of a Senate sitting on June 28, 2021. The Senate heard statements from senators on various topics, including the discovery of unmarked graves at a former residential school, the Montreal Canadiens' progress in the Stanley Cup finals, and the Air India Flight 182 tragedy. Question Period covered topics such as the national security breach at a Level 4 lab, the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action, and online hate speech. The Senate also proceeded with Orders of the Day, debating and advancing several bills, including those related to budget implementation, net-zero emissions, broadcasting, criminal law (conversion therapy), and the handling of online sexually explicit material. Several motions were also debated and voted upon, concerning sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong officials, the treatment of Uighur Muslims in China, pathways for temporary migrant workers, the detention of a Philippine senator, the closure of programs at Laurentian University, designating August 1 as Emancipation Day, and the crisis facing NAV CANADA.