Bill S-210 explained in plain English

The Senate convened for a sitting on October 27, 2020. The sitting included Senators' Statements on various topics, including Small Business Week, tributes to late Honourable Senators, and Latin American Heritage Month. Routine Proceedings saw the introduction of several bills and the tabling of committee reports. Question Period addressed a range of issues including foreign affairs, health, public safety, and finance. The Senate then moved to Orders of the Day, which included continuing debate on a committee report, motions regarding hybrid sittings, and second reading debates for several bills. Notably, Bill S-210, concerning the establishment of the Office of the Commissioner for Children and Youth in Canada, was introduced and its second reading debate was adjourned.

During the Senate's second reading debate on Bill S-210, the sponsor of the bill, Senator Rosemary Moodie, delivered a speech highlighting the critical need to establish an Office of the Commissioner for Children and Youth in Canada. She presented concerning statistics on child mortality, family violence, poverty, food insecurity, and obesity among children and youth in Canada, noting that Canada ranks poorly among OECD countries in child well-being. Senator Moodie emphasized that a federal commissioner is essential to advocate for children's rights, ensure government accountability, and provide a national focus on issues affecting children, especially Indigenous children. She cited support from various organizations and previous parliamentary efforts, underscoring that this is long overdue "unfinished business." Senator Moodie also responded to questions about the bill's financial implications and the path forward without a Royal Recommendation, stating discussions with the House of Commons are underway. Senator Jim Munson spoke in support, drawing on his experience and the legacy of former Senator Landon Pearson, and recounted his own multi-year effort to pass a bill establishing World Autism Awareness Day. He stressed the importance of perseverance and supporting children's rights. Senator Dennis Glen Patterson questioned the financial implications and the need for a Royal Recommendation, to which Senator Moodie responded regarding ongoing discussions with the House of Commons and potential legislative pathways. The debate was adjourned.

On October 29, 2020, the Senate continued the debate on Bill S-210, an Act to establish the Office of the Commissioner for Children and Youth in Canada. Senators discussed the bill, with Senator Salma Ataullahjan highlighting the long history of calls for such an office, dating back to 1989 and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. She noted Canada's lagging implementation of the convention and cited reports from Senate committees in 2007 and 2013 that recommended establishing a children's commissioner. Senator Ataullahjan also presented statistics on child well-being in Canada, showing a decline in rankings and various challenges faced by children, and suggested that the establishment of a commissioner in other countries has led to improvements. She urged support for the bill to fulfill international obligations and give children a voice. The debate was adjourned.

During the Senate's second reading debate on Bill S-210, Senator Salma Ataullahjan spoke about the bill, highlighting Canada's lagging implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the historical advocacy for a federal children's commissioner. She presented statistics on child well-being in Canada and noted that similar offices in other countries have shown positive results. Senator Ataullahjan emphasized the bill's importance, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on children, and urged colleagues to support the bill. The debate on the bill was adjourned.

On November 5, 2020, the Senate convened for a sitting that included statements, routine proceedings, question period, and orders of the day. Key discussions and procedural activities involved statements on Aboriginal Veterans Day and Remembrance Day, Veterans' Week, Alberta's innovation, the UN's 75th anniversary, and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Routine proceedings included committee reports and the first reading of a bill. Question Period covered various topics, including veterans' disability benefits, hybrid committee meetings, ferry travel in New Brunswick, financial support for women victims of violence in Quebec, the National Sentry Program, claims for compensation, the carbon tax, and a COVID-19 disability advisory group. Under Orders of the Day, debates continued on several bills, including those related to the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act, the Criminal Code, the Canada Elections Act (voting age), and the establishment of the Office of the Commissioner for Children and Youth in Canada. There was also a debate on a bill to amend the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act and a debate on the Modern Slavery Bill. A private bill concerning the Girl Guides of Canada was adopted. A report regarding the Arctic was adopted, and a report from the Committee of Selection was adopted. Several motions were debated or adjourned, including those concerning CBC television viewership, the situation in Hong Kong, Azerbaijan-Turkey aggression, Huawei's role in 5G, Iran-sponsored terrorism, post-traumatic stress disorder, Turkey's aggression, the Hagia Sophia, WE Charity contract, Mi'kmaw fishers, and adopting anti-racism as a pillar of the Canada Health Act. A motion to authorize a committee to meet by video conference was debated, and the sitting concluded with adjournment.

This artifact is a record of a Senate debate on November 5, 2020, concerning Bill S-210, an Act to establish the Office of the Commissioner for Children and Youth in Canada. The debate included speeches from Senators Moodie and Mégie in favour of the bill, and Senator Patterson expressing concerns about its current form and suggesting the government should lead such an initiative. The discussion highlighted the need for an independent voice for children and youth, referencing international conventions and domestic issues. Senator Patterson raised points about jurisdiction, consultation with Indigenous communities, and the need for a Royal Recommendation, suggesting the bill might be improved or that the government should introduce similar legislation.

On November 19, 2020, the Senate debated Bill S-210, an Act to establish the Office of the Commissioner for Children and Youth in Canada. While the debate record does not contain the full text of the bill or details of the debate itself, it indicates that the second reading debate on Bill S-210 was continued. Other Senate business included senators' statements on various topics, routine proceedings such as committee meeting authorizations and tabling of reports, question period addressing issues from the Parole Board of Canada to Canada-China relations, and debates on several other bills and motions.

On December 3, 2020, the Senate convened for a sitting that included senators' statements, routine proceedings, question period, and orders of the day. The sitting featured several tributes and commemorations, including to Ambrose and Matilda Choi, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the late Marc-André Bédard, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, and the commemoration of the Polytechnique tragedy. Routine proceedings included the tabling of committee reports, adoption of motions regarding committee membership and adjournment, and notice of a motion to study the financial system. Question period addressed topics such as livestock price insurance, COVID-19 vaccines, ferry services, non-insured health benefits, access to safe drinking water, and agri-stability. The orders of the day involved the continuation of second reading debates on several bills, including amendments to the Offshore Health and Safety Act, the Judges Act and Criminal Code, and the Canada Elections Act, as well as the Commissioner for Children and Youth in Canada Bill. Other debates continued on the Speech from the Throne, Turkey's actions, and the WE Charity contract. There were also delayed answers to oral questions. The sitting concluded with a negative vote on a motion to adjourn and a debate on the cumulative impacts of resource extraction.

During a Senate sitting on December 8, 2020, senators spoke on various topics including World Soil Day, the 50th anniversary of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women, and the importance of gender parity in the Senate. The Senate also addressed procedural matters such as tabling committee reports and introducing new bills. A significant portion of the sitting involved debates on ongoing bills and motions. Notably, Bill S-210, which aims to establish the Office of the Commissioner for Children and Youth in Canada, was debated at second reading. Senators also discussed the cost of hybrid sittings, the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, and the prevention of violence against women during question period. The sitting concluded with votes on several motions, including one concerning aggression against the Republic of Artsakh, which was negatived, and a motion to adjourn the Senate, which was also negatived. The Senate adjourned until the next day.

On May 27, 2021, the Senate met. The sitting included Senators' Statements on various topics, Routine Proceedings where reports were tabled and committees were authorized to study specific matters, Question Period where Senators asked questions of the Government Representative on issues such as COVID-19 vaccine rollout, softwood lumber trade, port governance, long-term care, foreign worker programs, housing, and Canada-China relations, and Delayed Answers to Oral Questions. The Orders of the Day featured debates and continued considerations of various bills, including the "Commissioner for Children and Youth in Canada Bill" (Bill S-210) which had its second reading debate continued. The Senate also considered Bill S-4 concerning the "Parliament of Canada Act", engaging in a Committee of the Whole to hear from the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. Several other bills were at various stages, including third reading and second reading with referral to committee. The Senate concluded its business for the day with a motion to adjourn.

On June 8, 2021, the Senate met. The sitting included tributes to victims of a hate-motivated attack in London, Ontario, and discussions on various government bills and motions. Notably, debate continued on Bill S-210, which aims to establish the Office of the Commissioner for Children and Youth in Canada. Senators raised concerns regarding jurisdictional issues between federal and provincial governments, the definition of children and youth, and the lack of specific consultation with First Nations leadership in the bill's appointment process. The bill's funding and its potential to dilute issues for First Nations children were also discussed. Additionally, the Senate debated other bills and motions concerning organ donation, assisted human reproduction, voting age, diabetes, plastic waste, and human rights.