Bill S-232 explained in plain English
An Act to amend the Governor General’s Act (retiring annuity and other benefits)
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-232 modifies the Governor General's Act to require a minimum of five consecutive years of service for a Governor General to receive a retiring annuity or other benefits, with specific provisions for medical incapacitation and transitional arrangements.
Bill S-232 amends the Governor General's Act to change the eligibility requirements for retiring annuities and other benefits for former Governors General. It introduces a new requirement that a Governor General must serve for at least five consecutive years to be eligible for these benefits, with an exception for those who are unable to complete five years due to medical reasons. The bill also specifies that no funds will be provided for administrative support or expense reimbursement for former Governors General who served less than five consecutive years. It includes transitional provisions regarding payments to former Governors General and their survivors.
- Amends the Governor General's Act to establish a minimum service period of five consecutive years for a Governor General to be eligible for a retiring annuity and other benefits.
- Adds a provision that a Governor General deemed to have served five consecutive years for medical reasons remains eligible.
- Introduces a new rule stating that former Governors General who served less than five consecutive years will not receive administrative support or expense reimbursements.
- Specifies that annuity payments to former Governors General who served less than five consecutive years will cease when the Act comes into force.
- Ensures that annuity payments to survivors will continue, even if the former Governor General served less than five consecutive years.
- Changes the title of Part II of the Governor General's Act to 'Governor General’s Retiring Annuity and Other Benefits'.
- Current and former Governors General.
- Survivors of former Governors General.
- The Governor in Council (for determining medical reasons for service eligibility).
- Former Governors General have a right to a retiring annuity and other benefits only if they have served for at least five consecutive years.
- A Governor General unable to serve five consecutive years for medical reasons is deemed to have met the service requirement.
- Former Governors General who served less than five consecutive years do not have a right to administrative support or expense reimbursement.
- Survivors of former Governors General have a right to continue receiving annuity payments.
- The Act comes into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.
- Annuity payments to former Governors General who served less than five consecutive years will cease on the day the Act comes into force.
- No money will be paid from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for administrative support or expense reimbursement for former Governors General who served less than five consecutive years.
- The specific date on which the Act comes into force is not yet determined.
- The interpretation of 'medical reasons' that would allow a Governor General to be deemed to have served five consecutive years is not explicitly defined.
- The exact aggregate amount of the annuity is not detailed in the provided text, only that it is 'equal to the aggregate of'.
Changes the eligibility criteria for retiring annuities and benefits for former Governors General, requiring a minimum of five consecutive years of service, with exceptions for medical reasons.
Source: Section 2
Prohibits payments for administrative support or expense reimbursement to former Governors General who served less than five consecutive years.
Source: Section 3
Specifies that annuity payments to former Governors General who served less than five consecutive years will cease on the day the Act comes into force.
Source: Section 4(1)
Confirms that annuity payments to survivors will continue during their lifetime, regardless of the former Governor General's length of service.
Source: Section 4(2)
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-232, an act to amend the Governor General's Act regarding retiring annuities and benefits, completed its first reading in the Senate on March 30, 2021, and is currently at the second reading stage.
The Senate gave Bill S-232 its first reading on March 30, 2021. This is a procedural step where a bill is introduced to the Senate. The bill's current status is at second reading in the Senate. A related bill, C-305, has also been introduced in the House of Commons.
On March 30, 2021, the Senate of Canada introduced Bill S-232 at first reading, debated and passed appropriation bills, and engaged in discussions on various inquiries, including systemic racism and the long-term care system.
On March 30, 2021, the Senate of Canada convened for a sitting that included various procedural matters and debates. A key procedural event was the introduction and first reading of Bill S-232, an Act to amend the Governor General’s Act. This bill was introduced by Senator Claude Carignan and placed on the Order of the Day for second reading two days hence. Other proceedings included tabling of Auditor General reports, presentation of committee reports, tabling of international group reports, and notices of motions on various subjects, including authorizing committees to study specific matters and designating a day for Emancipation Day. The sitting also featured Question Period, where senators discussed topics such as the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, childcare, mandatory minimum penalties, and Canada-China relations. Several bills were read for the second or third time, including appropriation bills related to federal public administration. Debates also occurred on inquiries concerning systemic racism, long-term care, the link between immigration and prosperity, and the career of former Senator Lillian Eva Dyck. A significant procedural item was the adoption of a new Senate Harassment and Violence Prevention Policy, and the repeal of the previous 2009 policy.
Bill S-232 was at the second reading stage in the Senate as of June 1, 2021, with debate occurring on that date.
This artifact describes the procedural status of Bill S-232 in the Senate. The bill was at the second reading stage, with the latest activity being a debate on June 1, 2021. The bill had its first reading on March 30, 2021. A similar bill, C-305, was also introduced in the House of Commons but is currently outside the Order of Precedence and its last major stage was first reading. The artifact does not contain the text of the bill itself or details about its potential effects.
On June 1, 2021, the Senate observed a moment of silence for the 215 children found at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, commenced debate on Bill S-232 concerning Governor General's benefits, and addressed numerous other legislative and policy matters.
On June 1, 2021, the Senate sat and the following occurred: Senators made statements mourning the discovery of 215 Indigenous children's remains at the Kamloops Indian Residential School and marking the beginning of National Indigenous History Month. Routine proceedings included tabling reports and adopting motions related to the Privacy Commissioner and Bill C-5. Several notices of motions were given. Question Period addressed topics such as Bill C-15 consultations, the National Action Plan for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, healthcare for transgender people, the COVID-19 vaccine rollout for diplomatic staff, pandemic support for Air Canada, youth aging out of foster care, Arctic sovereignty, goods produced by forced labour, the Cannabis Act review, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and the Canada Emergency Business Account. Bills S-3 and S-4 were dealt with. The Senate began second reading debate on Bill S-209 (voting age) and Bill S-229 (decriminalization of substances), and debated and referred Bill S-230 (Citizenship Act) to committee. Second reading debate on Bill S-232 (Governor General's Act) was adjourned. The Senate also debated motions concerning sanctions against Chinese officials for human rights abuses against Uyghurs, authorized a committee study on forced and coerced sterilization (later withdrawn), debated adopting anti-racism as a pillar of the Canada Health Act, continued debate on inquiries regarding long-term care and the link between immigration and prosperity, authorized a committee study on official languages, and debated a motion condemning the detention of Senator Leila M. de Lima. Finally, a motion regarding pathways to citizenship for temporary migrant workers was debated and adjourned.
Bill S-232 has not yet reached the Third Reading stage in the Senate, with its latest recorded activity being a Second Reading debate on June 1, 2021.
This artifact describes the procedural status of Bill S-232 in the Senate. The bill has not yet reached the Third Reading stage. The latest activity noted was a debate during the Second Reading on June 1, 2021. It also references a similar private member's bill, C-305, which has completed First Reading in the House of Commons and is currently outside the Order of Precedence.
Bill S-232, concerning amending the Governor General's Act for retiring annuities and benefits, has had its first reading in the House of Commons but has not yet reached that stage according to this record, while it is currently undergoing second reading debate in the Senate.
This artifact describes the legislative process for Bill S-232 in the House of Commons. Specifically, it notes that the 'House of Commons First reading' stage has not yet been reached, despite the bill having had its first reading on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. The bill is currently at second reading in the Senate, with debate on that stage occurring on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. A similar bill, C-305, was introduced as a Private Member's Bill in this Parliament but is currently outside the Order of Precedence.
Bill S-232 has not yet reached the second reading stage in the House of Commons, with its latest activity being a second reading debate in the Senate.
This record indicates that the "House of Commons Second reading" stage for Bill S-232 has not yet been reached. The bill is currently at the second reading stage in the Senate. The latest activity mentioned for this bill was a debate at second reading in the Senate on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. It had its first reading on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.
Bill S-232, an act to amend the Governor General's Act concerning retiring annuities and other benefits, has reached the committee stage in the House of Commons but is currently at second reading in the Senate.
This record indicates that Bill S-232 has reached the 'House of Commons Consideration in committee' stage but has not yet proceeded further. The bill is currently at the 'second reading' stage in the Senate. The latest activity shown is debate at second reading in the Senate on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. The bill was first read in the House of Commons on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, and had its second reading in the Senate on Tuesday, June 1, 2021.
Bill S-232, concerning retiring annuities and benefits for the Governor General, has not yet reached the Report stage in the House of Commons and is currently undergoing second reading in the Senate.
This record describes the current status of Bill S-232 in the House of Commons. The bill has not yet reached the Report stage in the House of Commons. The bill is currently at the second reading stage in the Senate.
Bill S-232 has not yet reached Third Reading in the House of Commons, and is currently undergoing Second Reading in the Senate.
This artifact indicates that Bill S-232 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. The latest activity recorded was debate at Second Reading in the Senate on June 1, 2021. The bill's First Reading in the House of Commons occurred on March 30, 2021, and its Second Reading in the Senate occurred on June 1, 2021. A similar private member's bill, C-305, was also introduced in this Parliament.
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