Bill S-204 explained in plain English
An Act to amend the Library and Archives of Canada Act (National Portrait Gallery)
Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Parliament of Canada snapshot for 40th 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-204 would amend the Library and Archives of Canada Act to establish a permanent National Portrait Gallery in Ottawa displaying portraits and related works from the Library and Archives collection.
Bill S-204 proposes to amend the Library and Archives of Canada Act to create a National Portrait Gallery in Ottawa. The bill would require the Library and Archives of Canada to establish a permanent public display of portraits and portrait-related works from its collection in Ottawa. These works could include paintings, sketches, sculptures, or photographs. The gallery would be called the National Portrait Gallery and would be located at 100 Wellington Street in Ottawa. The bill would come into force 180 days after it receives royal assent, or earlier if the Governor in Council issues an order setting an earlier date.
- Amends the Library and Archives of Canada Act by adding a new section 17.1
- Requires the Library and Archives of Canada to establish a permanent display of portraits and works related to portraiture from its collection, including paintings, sketches, sculptures, and photographs
- Names the permanent display the 'National Portrait Gallery'
- Specifies that the National Portrait Gallery shall be accessible to the public
- Locates the National Portrait Gallery at 100 Wellington Street in Ottawa
- Sets the commencement date as 180 days after royal assent, or earlier by order of the Governor in Council
- The Library and Archives of Canada (responsible for establishing and maintaining the National Portrait Gallery)
- The general public (who will have access to the National Portrait Gallery)
- Visitors to Ottawa
- The Library and Archives of Canada must establish a permanent display of portraits and works related to portraiture from its collection
- The National Portrait Gallery must be accessible to the public
- The public has the right to access the National Portrait Gallery
- Bill received first reading on November 20, 2008
- Commencement: 180 days after royal assent, or on any earlier date fixed by order of the Governor in Council
- The bill text does not specify any financial costs, budget allocations, or tax impacts
- The bill text does not specify any enforcement mechanisms or penalties
- The bill does not specify the size, scope, or budget for the National Portrait Gallery
- The bill does not detail what specific portraits or works will be included in the gallery
- The bill does not specify staffing or operational requirements
- The bill does not explain the current status or plans for the location at 100 Wellington Street in Ottawa
- The bill text does not address how the gallery will be maintained or updated over time
Adds a new section 17.1 to the Act that requires the Library and Archives of Canada to establish and maintain a permanent public display of portraits and portrait-related works from its collection at a specified location in Ottawa
Source: Section 1 of Bill S-204
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-204, concerning the establishment of a National Portrait Gallery by amending the Library and Archives of Canada Act, completed its First Reading in the Senate on November 20, 2008, and is currently at the Second Reading stage.
This artifact describes the procedural step of First Reading for Bill S-204 in the Senate on November 20, 2008. This stage is now completed. The bill aims to amend the Library and Archives of Canada Act to establish a National Portrait Gallery. The bill is currently at the second reading stage in the Senate, with debate having occurred on November 25, 2008.
During the Senate's first reading of Bill S-204, related to the National Portrait Gallery, various other procedural matters and debates occurred, including discussions on the economy and government spending.
On November 20, 2008, the Senate held its first reading for Bill S-204, an Act to amend the Library and Archives of Canada Act concerning a National Portrait Gallery. This was part of a broader sitting that included tributes, welcoming remarks, the introduction of several other bills, and discussions on various topics including the economy and public service. The bill itself was introduced and read for the first time, and then placed on the order of the day for second reading at a later date.
Bill S-204, concerning a National Portrait Gallery, was undergoing debate at the second reading stage in the Senate as of November 25, 2008.
This record indicates that Bill S-204, an Act to amend the Library and Archives of Canada Act concerning a National Portrait Gallery, was at the second reading stage in the Senate. The last activity noted was a debate on Tuesday, November 25, 2008. The bill had its first reading on Thursday, November 20, 2008. The Senate sponsor, Jerahmiel Grafstein, gave a speech on November 25, 2008. A similar bill, S-233, was introduced in a previous Parliament.
The Senate's sitting on November 25, 2008, included routine proceedings, question period, and the adjournment of debate on several bills at second reading, including Bill S-204 concerning the National Portrait Gallery.
On November 25, 2008, the Senate sat and considered various matters. The debate at second reading for Bill S-204, an Act to amend the Library and Archives of Canada Act (National Portrait Gallery), was adjourned. The sitting included statements on historical events, reports tabled, notices of motions on various subjects including the televising of Senate proceedings, study of credit and debit card systems, and a referendum on abolishing the Senate. Question Period addressed the economic downturn and government spending. Several bills were listed for second reading, including Bill S-204, with debate adjourned on all of them.
During a Senate sitting on November 25, 2008, Senator Jerahmiel S. Grafstein sponsored Bill S-204 at second reading, proposing the creation of a National Portrait Gallery in Ottawa, which led to a debate about its cost and appropriateness.
On November 25, 2008, the Senate of Canada convened. The primary business of the day involved the second reading debate for Bill S-204, "An Act to amend the Library and Archives of Canada Act (National Portrait Gallery)." Senator Jerahmiel S. Grafstein, the sponsor of the bill, delivered a speech advocating for its passage. He detailed the history and rationale behind establishing a National Portrait Gallery in Ottawa, highlighting the potential benefits and cost-effectiveness of the project. Senator Gerald J. Comeau raised concerns about the bill's cost and the appropriateness of parliamentarians proposing such initiatives in the current economic climate. Senator Grafstein responded to these concerns, emphasizing the project's cost-effectiveness and the importance of preserving Canada's visual history. The debate on Bill S-204 was adjourned.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Third reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for First reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Second reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Consideration in committee yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Report stage yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Third reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
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