Bill S-220 explained in plain English

On December 9, 2021, the Senate met. The sitting included procedural matters such as adopting committee reports and motions, tabling reports, and notices of inquiry. The Senate also debated several bills at second reading, including those concerning the name of an electoral district, the role of artists, pandemic observance, fighting forced labour, criminal records, international mother language day, the use of resources by charities, the use of wood in public works, and trafficking in human organs. The Senate also debated the duration of committee memberships and a point of order regarding Zoom chat usage. Bill S-220, concerning the Language Skills Act and the Governor General, was debated at second reading and debate was adjourned. The sitting concluded with adjournment motions.

This artifact is a record of a Senate debate on December 9, 2021, concerning Bill S-220, an act to amend the Languages Skills Act. During the debate, Senator Claude Carignan spoke in favour of the bill, explaining that its purpose is to add the office of the Governor General to the list of positions subject to the Language Skills Act. This would mean that the Governor General, like other officers of Parliament, would be required to be bilingual in English and French at the time of appointment. Senator Carignan expressed disappointment that the current Governor General, Mary Simon, speaks Inuktitut and English but not French, which he believes is a problem given the Governor General's role as head of state and commander-in-chief who represents Canada internationally and domestically. He argued that this appointment sends the wrong message about Canada's bilingualism and its founding linguistic duality. He referenced various laws and constitutional provisions related to official languages, as well as the recent appointment of Mary Simon and the public complaints received by the Commissioner of Official Languages. Other senators asked questions about the bill, touching on the importance of official languages, the role of Indigenous languages, the potential for provincial education systems to improve language training, and the application of the bill to positions like lieutenant-governor. The debate also touched on the possibility of a unilingual francophone appointment and the concept of a senator's ability to learn the other official language during their term.

On December 14, 2021, the Senate held a sitting that included Senators' Statements, Routine Proceedings, Question Period, and Orders of the Day. During Routine Proceedings, several reports were tabled, including those from the Auditor General and Senate committees. A motion to resolve into a Committee of the Whole to consider Bill C-2 was adopted. Several committees were authorized to conduct studies, and notices of motions were given for future committee business. Question Period saw Senators asking the Government Representative about various topics including the Department of Finance, immigration backlogs, greenhouse gas emissions, access to safe drinking water on Indigenous reserves, carbon capture strategies, sustainable agriculture, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, COVID-19 fraud, pandemic travel restrictions, and the Canada Pension Plan. Under Orders of the Day, the Senate proceeded with second reading debates on several bills, including Appropriation Bill No. 4, Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Bill, and Bill S-220 (An Act to amend the Languages Skills Act (Governor General)). The debate on Bill S-220 was adjourned. The second report of the Committee of Selection was adopted. Debates continued on a motion recognizing climate change as an urgent crisis, a motion concerning the residential school system, and a motion to study the federal framework for suicide prevention. An inquiry on the contributions of Métis, Inuit, and First Nations was also initiated. A motion to urge the government to call upon parties to the Act of the International Conference on Viet-Nam to agree to its reconvention was negatived. The sitting concluded with legislative and debate activities.

On February 8, 2022, the Senate sat. The Senate heard statements about the late Alexa McDonough, the Lunar New Year, and the late Harold (Harry) R. Steele. Routine proceedings included notices of motions from various Senate committees to study different issues. Question Period addressed topics such as the Ottawa state of emergency, Afghan refugees, access to broadband, and Canada's inflation rate. The Senate then proceeded to Orders of the Day, which included the continuation of debate on several bills and motions. Specifically, Bill S-220, an Act to amend the Languages Skills Act (Governor General), was debated at second reading. The Senate also considered and discharged reports on Bill C-3. Bill S-207, an Act to change the name of the electoral district of Châteauguay—Lacolle, was read a third time and passed. Debate continued on Bill S-213, an Act to amend the Criminal Code (independence of the judiciary), and Bill S-233, an Act to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income. A motion to recognize climate change as an urgent crisis was debated, as was a motion to authorize a study on the Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention. Debate continued on a motion pertaining to Section 55 of the Constitution Act, 1982, with an amendment adopted to shorten the reporting period to 12 months. A motion calling upon the government to implement a recommendation regarding diversity on charitable boards was debated. The Senate authorized a committee to refer papers and evidence from a previous session. A motion concerning minimums for government bills was also debated, proposing changes to the process for handling government bills to ensure more thorough consideration. Finally, a motion to recognize climate change as an urgent crisis was debated.

On February 24, 2022, the Senate met. Senators' Statements were made on various topics, including the situation in Ukraine, Black History Month, and Canadian athletes at the Olympic Winter Games. Routine Proceedings included tabling reports and presenting committee reports. Question Period addressed topics like vaccine mandates, the Emergencies Act, and child care agreements. The Senate then proceeded to Orders of the Day, where several bills were debated or adjourned, including Bill C-10 (COVID-19 measures), Bill C-12 (Old Age Security Act), Bill S-204 (Customs Tariff - Xinjiang goods), Bill S-205 (Criminal Code - domestic violence), Bill S-220 (Languages Skills Act - Governor General), and Bill S-233 (Guaranteed Livable Basic Income). Several motions were also adopted or debated, including one condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine and motions to authorize committees to study various issues. The Senate adjourned until March 1, 2022.

This artifact is a record of a Senate sitting held on March 1, 2022. The sitting included statements by senators on various topics, including International Women's Day, the situation in Ukraine, and Age-Related Macular Degeneration Awareness Month. Routine proceedings saw the presentation of a committee report on the Old Age Security Act and the introduction of a bill to amend the Criminal Code. Question Period addressed topics such as Arctic sovereignty, freezing bank accounts, and Ukrainian refugees. The Senate then proceeded to Orders of the Day, debating and referring several bills to committee, including Bill S-4 (amendments to the Criminal Code and Identification of Criminals Act for COVID-19 response), Bill C-10 (measures related to COVID-19), and Bill S-217 (repurposing seized assets). A significant portion of the sitting involved the debate and referral of Bill S-220, An Act to amend the Languages Skills Act (Governor General), to committee. The sitting also included motions regarding the Saskatchewan Act and the Senate's Environmental and Sustainability Policy Statement.

On May 3, 2022, the Senate continued its second reading debate on Bill S-220, an Act to amend the Languages Skills Act concerning the Governor General. The debate was adjourned, meaning it was not completed, and will continue at a later date. The rest of the sitting included various Senate proceedings such as Senators' Statements, Routine Proceedings, Question Period, and the continuation of debates on other bills and motions. Specific to Bill S-220, Senator Jean-Guy Dagenais spoke, arguing that bilingualism should be a requirement for the Governor General. He stated that the current Prime Minister has shown disregard for francophones by appointing a Governor General who does not fully understand both official languages, referencing a court ruling in New Brunswick regarding the requirement for the Lieutenant-Governor of that province to be bilingual. He expressed hope that Bill S-220 would be unanimously supported, similar to a past bill requiring bilingualism for certain public service positions.

On May 3, 2022, the Senate continued its second reading debate on Bill S-220, an act to amend the Language Skills Act concerning the Governor General. The debate focused on the requirement for the Governor General to be bilingual in English and French. Senator Jean-Guy Dagenais spoke in favour of the bill, arguing that the Governor General must be proficient in both official languages to respect Canada's founding peoples and to reflect the linguistic reality of the country. He cited the recent appointment of Governor General Mary Simon, who is not fluently bilingual, as a reason for the necessity of this legislation. He also referenced a recent court ruling in New Brunswick regarding the unilingual appointment of a Lieutenant-Governor, which underscored the importance of bilingualism in high office. Senator Dagenais expressed his belief that the bill would protect francophones and ensure the office of the Governor General is respectful of Canada's two official languages.

On June 2, 2022, the Senate continued the second reading debate on Bill S-220, an Act to amend the Languages Skills Act. The debate focused on the requirement for the Governor General to be fluent in both official languages, with Senators discussing the importance of official bilingualism, the protection of Indigenous languages, and the current state of French in Canada. The Senate also conducted other business, including tributes to Senator Howard Wetston who was retiring, tabling of committee reports, and first readings of several bills. Question Period included discussions on agricultural issues with the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. The Senate then adjourned until June 7, 2022.

This Senate sitting on November 3, 2022, included discussions on various topics, including Indigenous Veterans Day and Remembrance Day, human rights in Iran, and the contributions of individuals like Yoanis Menge, Ruben Komangapik, and Ela Bhatt. The Senate also welcomed distinguished visitors. A significant portion of the sitting was dedicated to Question Period, where Senators questioned the Government Representative in the Senate on issues such as the cost of the delegation to Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, affordable housing, francophone immigration, and Canada-Taiwan relations. Several bills were also addressed: Bill C-31 (Cost of Living Relief) proceeded to second reading with debate and was referred to committee; Bill C-5 (amendments to the Criminal Code and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act) continued debate at third reading, with an amendment proposed and adopted; Bill S-236 (Employment Insurance Act and Regulations for PEI) was amended and referred back to committee; Bill S-212 (Criminal Records Act) was read second time and referred to committee; Bill S-220 (Languages Skills Act) had its second reading debate continued; Bill S-230 (Corrections and Conditional Release Act) was read second time and referred to committee; Bill S-231 (Criminal Code, Criminal Records Act, National Defence Act and DNA Identification Act) was read second time and referred to committee; Bill S-238 (Criminal Code and Canadian Victims Bill of Rights) was read second time and referred to committee; Bill S-242 (Radiocommunication Act) was read second time and referred to committee; Bill S-246 (Lebanese Heritage Month) was read second time and referred to committee; and Bill S-247 (Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act) had its second reading debate adjourned.