Bill S-214 explained in plain English
An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (property qualifications of Senators)
Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Parliament of Canada snapshot for 43rd Parliament, 2nd 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 would amend the Constitution Act, 1867, to eliminate property qualifications for Senators, except for Senators representing Quebec who would still have a residency qualification.
Bill S-214 proposes changes to the Constitution Act, 1867, concerning the property requirements for Senators. It aims to remove the minimum $4,000 net worth requirement for Senators and also eliminate the real property requirement for Senators representing provinces other than Quebec. The bill also includes provisions for how these changes will come into effect, especially in relation to other potential amendments to the Constitution Act, 1867.
- Removes the requirement that a Senator's real and personal property must be worth at least $4,000 over and above their debts and liabilities (Section 2).
- Makes the existing real property qualification in paragraph (3) of section 23 of the Constitution Act, 1867, no longer apply to Senators representing a province other than Quebec (Section 3).
- Replaces the Declaration of Qualification for Senators to remove references to property ownership requirements (Section 4).
- Modifies how the new provisions interact with other potential amendments to section 23 of the Constitution Act, 1867, ensuring clarity on commencement and repeal (Section 5).
- Updates the Constitution Act, 1867, to include this Act as part of the Constitution Acts (Section 6).
- Senators
- Appointed Senators
- Individuals seeking appointment to the Senate
- The Parliament of Canada
- The Province of Quebec
- Senators will no longer be required to meet a minimum net worth for their property.
- Senators representing provinces other than Quebec will no longer be subject to a real property qualification.
- The bill's provisions come into force on a day or days to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.
- Section 5 outlines specific coordination rules for when the changes to section 23 and the new section 23A of the Constitution Act, 1867, take effect relative to each other and other potential amendments.
- The bill eliminates a property qualification, which requires Senators to have real and personal property worth at least $4,000 over their debts and liabilities.
- The precise commencement date for the bill's provisions is not specified and will be determined by order of the Governor in Council.
- The bill's effect on Quebec Senators' property qualification is limited; it primarily addresses the general net worth and real property requirements for Senators representing other provinces.
- The interaction between this bill and potential simultaneous amendments to the Constitution Act, 1867, is addressed through coordinating provisions, but the exact timing of such other amendments is not known.
Repeals the requirement for Senators to possess real and personal property worth at least $4,000 over their debts. It also makes the real property qualification no longer apply to Senators from provinces other than Quebec and updates the Declaration of Qualification for Senators.
Source: Sections 2, 3, 4, 5
Repeals subsection (4) which sets a minimum net worth for Senators' property. It also makes subsection (3), concerning real property qualifications, not applicable to Senators representing provinces other than Quebec.
Source: Sections 2, 3
Replaces the Declaration of Qualification for Senators to remove property ownership requirements.
Source: Section 4
Changes the conditions under which a Senator's place becomes vacant due to property qualification, by referencing the new provisions.
Source: Section 5(5)
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-214, an act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 regarding property qualifications for Senators, was first read in the Senate on October 27, 2020, and is currently at the second reading stage.
Bill S-214, concerning property qualifications for Senators, had its first reading in the Senate on October 27, 2020. This means the bill was formally introduced in the Senate. The bill is currently at the second reading stage in the Senate, with debate having taken place on October 29, 2020.
On October 27, 2020, the Senate introduced Bill S-214 for first reading, debated and adopted rules for hybrid sittings due to the pandemic, and addressed various other legislative and procedural matters.
This record details the proceedings of the Senate on October 27, 2020. The Senate began with Senators' Statements, followed by Routine Proceedings where several bills were introduced for first reading, including Bill S-214, An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (property qualifications of Senators). The Senate then proceeded to Question Period, where various topics were discussed, including foreign affairs, the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, access to medicine, and the prison system. Following Question Period, the Senate resumed debate on committee reports and motions. A significant procedural item was the adoption of a motion to authorize hybrid sittings, allowing senators to participate remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Several bills were introduced and given first reading. Debate on some bills and inquiries was adjourned.
The Senate began debate on Bill S-214, which proposes to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 regarding property qualifications for Senators, at the second reading stage on October 29, 2020.
On October 29, 2020, the Senate began debate at the second reading stage for Bill S-214. This bill aims to amend the Constitution Act, 1867, specifically concerning the property qualifications for Senators. The sponsor's speech was given on this date. The bill had its first reading on October 27, 2020. The second reading stage was not completed on October 29, 2020.
On October 29, 2020, the Senate held a sitting that included tributes, question period on various issues including COVID-19 and trade, and debates on multiple motions and bills, including one proposing to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 to remove property qualifications for senators.
On October 29, 2020, the Senate convened for a sitting that included tributes to former Senator David Braley and Aline Chrétien, discussions on "Show Your 4-H Colours Day," and the importance of teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senate also heard tributes to Catherine Piccinin on her retirement and to the late Right Honourable Donald Mazankowski. Routine proceedings included the first reading of two private bills. Question Period addressed the government's fiscal update, COVID-19 testing and response plans, border security, Canada-U.S. trade, and export of defence technology to Turkey. Several orders of the day were debated, including a question of privilege ruling, adjournment motions, and debates on bills concerning the Commissioner for Children and Youth, amendments to the Criminal Code regarding jury deliberations, and amendments to the Constitution Act, 1867 concerning Senate property qualifications. Motions were also debated regarding committee membership, imposing sanctions on Chinese officials, imposing sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials, filling the position of Speaker pro tempore by secret ballot, and freezing parliamentarians' sessional allowances. Finally, a motion to place a report on the Orders of the Day was adopted, and the Speaker announced the commencement of hybrid sittings.
During a Senate debate, the sponsor of Bill S-214 argued for removing property and net worth requirements for senators, citing outdated laws and their exclusionary impact on Canadians.
This Senate debate on October 29, 2020, primarily focused on Bill S-214, which proposes to remove property and net worth qualifications for senators. The sponsor of the bill argued that current requirements are an outdated anachronism that exclude a large portion of Canadians, including renters and those living in specific housing situations like in Nunavut or on reserves, from serving in the Senate. The debate also included tributes to former Senator David Braley and other notable individuals, discussions on various government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, and other legislative matters.
Bill S-214, concerning property qualifications for Senators, has not yet reached the Third Reading stage in the Senate and was last debated at Second Reading.
The Senate has not yet reached the 'Third Reading' stage for Bill S-214. The bill's latest activity was debate at the 'Second Reading' stage on Thursday, October 29, 2020. The bill was first read on Tuesday, October 27, 2020.
Bill S-214, concerning property qualifications for Senators, has had its first reading in the House of Commons and is currently undergoing second reading in the Senate.
Bill S-214, which proposes to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 regarding the property qualifications of Senators, has reached its first reading in the House of Commons. This is an early procedural step. The bill is currently at the second reading stage in the Senate. The provided information notes that the House of Commons First Reading stage has not yet been reached, despite the artifact label. The latest activity on the bill was a debate at second reading in the Senate on October 29, 2020. The bill was first read in the Senate on October 27, 2020.
Bill S-214, concerning property qualifications for Senators, has not yet reached second reading in the House of Commons, but is currently undergoing second reading in the Senate, with similar bills having been introduced in past parliamentary sessions.
The provided information describes the legislative journey of Bill S-214, which aims to amend the Constitution Act, 1867, specifically concerning the property qualifications required for Senators. The artifact indicates that the House of Commons has not yet reached the 'Second reading' stage for this bill. Currently, the bill is at the 'Second reading' stage in the Senate. The latest activity noted was a debate at second reading in the Senate on Thursday, October 29, 2020. The bill received first reading in the Senate on Tuesday, October 27, 2020. The artifact also lists several similar bills introduced in previous parliamentary sessions that addressed the same issue of property qualifications for Senators.
Bill S-214, concerning property qualifications for Senators, has not yet reached committee stage in the House of Commons and is currently at second reading in the Senate.
This artifact indicates that Bill S-214, an act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 regarding property qualifications for Senators, has not yet reached the stage of 'Consideration in committee' in the House of Commons. The bill's current status is 'At second reading in the Senate', with its latest activity being a debate at second reading on October 29, 2020. Similar bills focused on amending property qualifications for Senators have been introduced in previous parliamentary sessions.
Bill S-214, an Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 regarding property qualifications for Senators, has not reached the Report stage in the House of Commons and is currently at second reading in the Senate.
The artifact indicates that Bill S-214, concerning amendments to the Constitution Act, 1867 regarding property qualifications for Senators, has not yet reached the Report stage in the House of Commons. The bill's current status is at second reading in the Senate, with its latest activity being a debate at second reading on October 29, 2020. It received first reading on October 27, 2020.
Bill S-214 has not yet reached third reading in the House of Commons and is currently at second reading in the Senate.
This record indicates that Bill S-214 has not yet reached the third reading stage in the House of Commons. The bill is currently at the second reading stage in the Senate, where it had its first reading on Tuesday, October 27, 2020, and a debate at second reading on Thursday, October 29, 2020. The source text also lists similar bills that have been introduced in previous parliamentary sessions.
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