Bill S-220 explained in plain English
An Act to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act (use of wood)
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
Bill S-220 requires the Minister of Public Works to consider greenhouse gas emissions and environmental benefits when setting requirements for federal building projects, and allows the use of wood and other environmentally beneficial materials.
Bill S-220 amends the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act to change how the federal government designs requirements for building, maintaining, and repairing federal buildings and properties. Under this bill, the Minister responsible for public works must consider whether using certain materials—especially wood—could reduce greenhouse gas emissions or provide other environmental benefits. The Minister may then decide to allow the use of wood, sustainable materials, or other things that provide environmental benefits, even if they differ from previous standards. This gives the government more flexibility to choose environmentally friendly options when building or maintaining federal structures.
- Amends Section 7 of the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act by adding a new subsection (1.1)
- Requires the Minister to consider potential reductions in greenhouse gas emissions when developing requirements for federal building projects
- Requires the Minister to consider other environmental benefits when developing requirements for federal building projects
- Allows the Minister to permit the use of wood in federal construction, maintenance, or repair projects
- Allows the Minister to permit the use of other environmentally beneficial materials, products, or sustainable resources in federal building projects
- Applies to construction, maintenance, or repair of public works, federal real property, and federal immovables
- The Minister of Public Works and Government Services
- Federal government departments and agencies responsible for federal buildings and properties
- Contractors and suppliers involved in federal construction, maintenance, or repair projects
- The general public, as users of federal buildings and properties
- The Minister shall consider any potential reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when developing requirements for federal building projects
- The Minister shall consider any other environmental benefits when developing requirements for federal building projects
- The Minister may allow the use of wood in federal construction, maintenance, or repair projects
- The Minister may allow the use of other materials, products, or sustainable resources that achieve environmental benefits
- The bill does not specify what 'environmental benefits' means or provide a detailed definition
- The bill does not establish specific criteria or standards for determining whether materials achieve sufficient environmental benefits
- The bill uses the word 'may' when referring to allowing certain materials, meaning the Minister has discretion and is not required to allow them
- The bill does not specify when this amendment comes into force
- The bill does not indicate whether this applies to existing federal building projects or only new ones
- The bill does not specify how the consideration of greenhouse gas emissions and environmental benefits should be documented or reported
Adds a new requirement for the Minister to consider greenhouse gas emissions and environmental benefits when setting standards for federal building projects, and permits the use of wood and other environmentally beneficial materials.
Source: Section 7, new subsection (1.1)
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-220, an Act to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act (use of wood), completed its first reading in the Senate on December 2, 2020, and is currently under consideration in committee.
The Senate gave Bill S-220, concerning the use of wood in government construction, its first reading on December 2, 2020. This marked the initial introduction of the bill in the Senate. Subsequently, the bill proceeded to second reading on March 17, 2021, and was referred to a committee on June 3, 2021. The bill is currently at the committee stage in the Senate.
The Senate sitting on December 2, 2020, included tributes to Senator Lillian Eva Dyck, the first reading of Bill S-220, a debate on Bill S-2, and Question Period on various government programs and policies.
This document records a Senate sitting on December 2, 2020. The sitting included tributes to Senator Lillian Eva Dyck, who retired in August 2020. Senators shared personal anecdotes and acknowledged her significant contributions, particularly concerning Indigenous rights, Bill S-3, and advocating for Indigenous women and girls. The sitting also featured the tabling of committee reports, notices of motions, and Question Period where senators raised issues regarding the firearms buyback program, the Canada Emergency Business Account, COVID-19 funding for front-line workers, the Canada Health Act, the Advance Payments Program, COVID-19 vaccines, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and human trafficking legislation. A key procedural event was the first reading of Bill S-220, An Act to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act (use of wood), introduced by Senator Diane F. Griffin. Additionally, the Senate debated Bill S-2, An Act to amend the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act, with Senators Ataullahjan and McPhedran speaking. The sitting concluded with Bill S-2 being referred to committee and the Senate adjourning.
Bill S-220, concerning the use of wood in government construction, completed its second reading in the Senate on June 3, 2021, and was sent to a committee.
This artifact tracks the progress of Bill S-220 through the Senate. It shows that the bill completed its second reading stage on June 3, 2021, and was subsequently referred to a Senate committee for further study. The record also lists previous readings of the bill and similar bills introduced in past parliamentary sessions.
The Senate began the second reading debate on Bill S-220, concerning the use of wood in public works, but the debate was adjourned.
On March 17, 2021, the Senate held its second reading debate for Bill S-220, An Act to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act (use of wood). The debate was adjourned, meaning it was paused and will continue at a later date. This is a procedural step in the legislative process.
On June 3, 2021, the Senate held a sitting where various procedural matters, committee reports, and bills were addressed, including the second reading and referral of Bill S-220, and extensive discussions on Bill C-5 and Bill C-15.
On June 3, 2021, the Senate of Canada convened for a sitting that included Senators’ Statements, Routine Proceedings, Question Period, and Orders of the Day. The sitting primarily consisted of tabling reports, introducing bills, debating various motions, and continuing debate on existing bills. Notably, Bill S-220, concerning the use of wood in relation to the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act, was read at second reading and referred to committee. The sitting also featured extensive debate on Bill C-5, establishing a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and Bill C-15, respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Bill S-220, concerning the use of wood in relation to the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act, is currently undergoing consideration by a Senate committee.
The Senate is currently considering Bill S-220 in committee. The last procedural activity noted was the bill's referral to a committee on Thursday, June 3, 2021. Prior to this, the bill had its first reading on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, and its second reading on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, and Thursday, June 3, 2021. The artifact does not contain information about the committee's discussions or decisions.
Bill S-220, concerning the use of wood in relation to the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act, has been referred to a Senate committee but has not yet reached the Report stage.
The Senate has not yet reached the Report stage for Bill S-220, which aims to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act concerning the use of wood. The bill was referred to a Senate committee on Thursday, June 3, 2021. It had its first reading on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, and its second reading on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, and Thursday, June 3, 2021. The provided text also lists similar bills that have been introduced in past parliamentary sessions.
Bill S-220, concerning the use of wood in relation to the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act, has not yet reached the Third Reading stage in the Senate and is currently at the consideration in committee stage.
The Senate has not yet reached the Third Reading stage for Bill S-220, which concerns the use of wood. The bill was referred to a committee on June 3, 2021, and has not progressed further in the Senate process. Information on similar bills from previous parliamentary sessions is also provided, indicating that similar legislative efforts related to amending the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act regarding the use of wood have been introduced before.
Bill S-220, concerning the use of wood in government buildings, has had its first reading in the House of Commons but is currently under consideration in a Senate committee.
This artifact describes the procedural steps for Bill S-220 in the House of Commons. It indicates that the bill has reached its "First reading" stage in the House of Commons, which occurred on Wednesday, December 2, 2020. However, this specific stage "Not reached" is listed. The bill's current overall status is "At consideration in committee in the Senate," and its latest activity was a referral to a Senate committee on Thursday, June 3, 2021. The artifact also lists similar bills that have been introduced in the current and previous Parliaments.
Bill S-220, concerning the use of wood in government construction, has not yet undergone second reading in the House of Commons, but has proceeded through first and second reading in the Senate and been referred to a committee there.
This artifact describes the procedural status of Bill S-220 in the House of Commons. The bill has not yet reached the second reading stage in the House of Commons. It was last moved for consideration by a committee in the Senate on Thursday, June 3, 2021, after its first reading on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, and second reading on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, and Thursday, June 3, 2021 in the Senate. The provided text also lists similar bills that have been introduced in previous parliamentary sessions.
Bill S-220, regarding the use of wood in government construction, is listed as having reached the 'Consideration in committee' stage in the House of Commons, though this stage has not yet occurred, while its overall status is 'At consideration in committee in the Senate'.
This artifact indicates that Bill S-220, concerning the use of wood in government construction, has reached the 'Consideration in committee' stage in the House of Commons, but this stage has not yet occurred ('Not reached'). The bill's current overall status is 'At consideration in committee in the Senate'. Previous procedural steps for this bill include first reading on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, and second reading on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, and Thursday, June 3, 2021. The record also lists similar bills that have been introduced in previous parliamentary sessions.
Bill S-220, regarding the use of wood in government projects, has not yet reached the House of Commons Report stage and is currently under consideration in a Senate committee.
The provided text describes the legislative progress of Bill S-220, concerning the use of wood in government building projects. It indicates that the House of Commons Report stage for this bill has not yet been reached. The bill's current status is at the consideration in committee stage in the Senate. The latest action noted was its referral to a Senate committee on June 3, 2021. The artifact also lists similar bills that have been introduced in previous parliamentary sessions.
The House of Commons Third reading stage for Bill S-220, which aims to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act regarding the use of wood, has not yet been reached, and the bill is currently under consideration by a Senate committee.
This artifact concerns Bill S-220, An Act to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act (use of wood). It indicates that the "House of Commons Third reading" stage for this bill has not yet been reached. The current status of the bill is that it is "At consideration in committee in the Senate". The latest activity recorded was its referral to a Senate committee on Thursday, June 3, 2021. The artifact also lists previous legislative steps like first and second reading dates in the Senate and details similar bills that have been introduced in previous parliamentary sessions, some of which were defeated.
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