Bill S-221 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 44th Parliament, 1st 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-221 amends the Governor General’s Act to require at least five consecutive years of service for retiring annuities, includes a medical exception, and modifies payment terms for former Governors General.
Bill S-221 amends the Governor General’s Act to change the eligibility requirements for retiring annuities and other benefits. A Governor General must serve at least five consecutive years to qualify for these benefits. A special provision allows someone unable to serve five years due to medical reasons to still qualify. Payments to former Governors General who served less than five years will stop after the bill comes into force, but survivor benefits will continue.
- Changes the Governor General’s Act to require at least five consecutive years of service for eligibility for a retiring annuity (Section 2(1))
- Adds a provision allowing Governor Generals unable to serve five years due to medical reasons to still qualify (Section 2(1.1))
- Prohibits payments from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for administrative support to former Governors General who served less than five years (Section 3)
- Stops payments to former Governors General who served less than five years after the bill comes into force (Section 4(1))
- Continues survivor annuity payments during the life of the survivor (Section 4(2))
- Governor Generals serving or who have served
- Former Governors General who served less than five consecutive years
- Survivors of former Governors General
- Government agencies administering the Governor General’s Act
- The exact calculation of 'aggregate' for annuity amounts is not specified in the text
- The criteria for determining 'medical reasons' is not detailed in the bill
- The specific administrative support expenses covered by the prohibition are not defined
Changes the eligibility criteria for retiring annuities and other benefits, adds medical exception provisions, and modifies payment terms for former Governors General.
Source: Section 2(1) and 2(1.1)
Prohibits using funds for administrative support to former Governors General who served less than five years.
Source: Section 3
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-221, concerning retiring annuities and benefits for the Governor General, completed its first reading in the Senate on November 24, 2021, and is currently at the second reading stage.
This artifact describes the first reading of Bill S-221 in the Senate on November 24, 2021. This procedural step marks the official introduction of the bill. The bill aims to amend the Governor General's Act concerning retiring annuities and other benefits. The provided text also notes that a similar bill, S-232, was introduced in a previous Parliament, and that Bill S-221 is currently at the second reading stage in the Senate, with debate having occurred on April 7, 2022.
The Senate began its sitting with tributes to the late Senator Judith Keating, then proceeded with the introduction of several bills, including Bill S-221, and concluded with other procedural business.
On November 24, 2021, the Senate began its sitting with tributes to the late Honourable Senator Judith Keating. Following the tributes, the Senate moved to Routine Proceedings, where a motion to extend the time for Routine Proceedings was adopted. The Senate then proceeded to introduce several bills, including Bill S-221, An Act to amend the Governor General’s Act (retiring annuity and other benefits), which was read for the first time and placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading at a later date. The sitting also included Question Period on various topics and the adjournment of debate on a motion to authorize hybrid sittings.
Bill S-221 was at the second reading stage in the Senate on April 7, 2022, with previous similar bills noted.
This artifact describes the procedural status of Bill S-221 in the Senate as of April 7, 2022. The bill was at the second reading stage, meaning it was being debated in the Senate. The last major procedural step completed before this was its first reading. The artifact also notes that similar bills, S-232 and C-305, were introduced in a previous parliamentary session.
The Senate began the second reading debate of Bill S-221, An Act to amend the Governor General’s Act, but the debate was adjourned by Senator Carignan.
On April 7, 2022, the Senate considered Bill S-221, An Act to amend the Governor General’s Act (retiring annuity and other benefits). Senator Claude Carignan moved for the second reading of the bill. After his introductory remarks, Senator Carignan moved to adjourn the debate, indicating that the bill was complex and he needed to review his notes. The debate on the second reading of Bill S-221 was adjourned.
Bill S-221, concerning amending the Governor General's Act for benefits, is currently at the Second Reading stage in the Senate, with Third Reading not yet reached.
This artifact describes the procedural status of Bill S-221 in the Senate. The bill is currently at the 'Second Reading' stage. The last procedural activity noted was a debate during the 'Second Reading' on Thursday, April 7, 2022. The bill's 'Third Reading' stage has not yet been reached. The artifact also notes similar bills that were introduced in a previous parliamentary session.
Bill S-221, an Act to amend the Governor General's Act regarding retiring annuities and other benefits, has had its first reading stage identified in the House of Commons but has not yet reached that stage, while currently being at the second reading in the Senate.
This artifact indicates that Bill S-221, concerning amendments to the Governor General's Act related to retiring annuities and other benefits, has reached its first reading stage in the House of Commons. However, the 'Stage state' is listed as 'Not reached,' meaning this procedural step has not yet occurred. The bill is currently at the second reading stage in the Senate.
This record indicates that Bill S-221, concerning amendments to the Governor General's Act for retiring benefits, has not yet reached its second reading stage in the House of Commons, although the bill is currently at second reading in the Senate.
This artifact describes the legislative process for Bill S-221, an Act to amend the Governor General’s Act. The bill reached the 'House of Commons Second reading' stage but has not yet reached that stage. The current overall status of the bill is 'At second reading in the Senate'. The latest activity noted was a debate at second reading in the Senate on Thursday, April 7, 2022. The bill had its first reading on Wednesday, November 24, 2021. The artifact also notes similar bills, S-232 and C-305, introduced in a previous Parliament.
Bill S-221, concerning amendments to the Governor General's Act for retiring benefits, is at the "Consideration in committee" stage in the House of Commons, though this stage has not yet been reached, and is currently at second reading in the Senate.
This record indicates that Bill S-221, concerning amendments to the Governor General's Act regarding retiring annuities and other benefits, has reached the stage of "Consideration in committee" in the House of Commons. However, the artifact notes that this stage has "Not reached". The bill is currently at the "Second reading" stage in the Senate. The latest recorded activity was a debate at second reading in the Senate on Thursday, April 7, 2022. The bill was first read on Wednesday, November 24, 2021. Similar bills, S-232 and C-305, with the same purpose, were introduced in a previous Parliament.
The House of Commons Report stage for Bill S-221 has not been reached, and the bill is currently at second reading in the Senate.
The House of Commons Report stage for Bill S-221 has not yet been reached. The artifact provided indicates the bill's current status is at second reading in the Senate. The latest activity recorded was a debate at second reading in the Senate on Thursday, April 7, 2022. The bill was first read in the Senate on Wednesday, November 24, 2021, and had its second reading on Thursday, April 7, 2022. The artifact also notes similar bills introduced in a previous Parliament, including Bill S-232 and Bill C-305, which had the same title.
Bill S-221 has not yet reached the House of Commons third reading stage and is currently at second reading in the Senate.
This artifact indicates that Bill S-221 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 record also notes similar bills that were introduced in a previous 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