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FederalPassed40th Parliament, 2nd Session

Bill S-2 explained in plain English

An Act to amend the Customs Act

Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.

Short answer

Bill S-2 amends the Customs Act to clarify provisions, update technical aspects, and modify customs procedures including agent authorization, valuation rules, and search powers.

At a glance

Jurisdiction
Federal Parliament
Legislature / Parliament
Parliament of Canada
Session
40th Parliament, 2nd Session
Bill number
Bill S-2
Full title
An Act to amend the Customs Act
Current status
Passed
Latest event
Royal assent received
Last updated
Jun 11, 2009

Official Parliament of Canada snapshot for 40th 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.

Chamber
Parliament of Canada
Current Stage
Royal assent received
Latest Activity
Jun 11, 2009
Plain-language explanation

AI-generated from official bill text; automatically checked and spot-reviewed.

AI-assisted
Short Version

Bill S-2 amends the Customs Act to clarify provisions, update technical aspects, and modify customs procedures including agent authorization, valuation rules, and search powers.

What It Means

Bill S-2 amends the Customs Act to clarify legal provisions, update technical details, and modify procedures related to customs operations. Key changes include updating agent authorization rules, adjusting reporting requirements for goods in customs-controlled areas, revising valuation methods for customs duty, expanding customs officers' search powers, and modifying procedures for proving the absence of an appeal.

What This Bill Does
  • Clarifies and updates provisions in the Customs Act to improve clarity and technical accuracy
  • Modifies authorization procedures for customs agents and the Minister's authority over authorizations
  • Updates obligations for individuals leaving or within customs-controlled areas, including reporting requirements
  • Revises valuation methods for customs duty, including adjustments to transaction value determinations
  • Introduces new pre-arrival conveyance information requirements
  • Expands customs officers' search powers and modifies non-intrusive examination procedures
  • Updates passenger information requirements and error correction procedures
  • Repeals outdated provisions and adds new rules for incorporating materials by reference in regulations
  • Specifies that section 5 of the Act comes into force by order of the Governor in Council
Who Is Affected
  • Customs officers and agents conducting inspections and valuations
  • Importers and exporters handling goods through customs
  • Passengers and individuals traveling with goods
  • Regulatory bodies creating customs-related regulations
  • Courts and legal entities involved in customs appeals
Uncertainties Or Limits
  • The bill's specific impact on individual cases or industries would depend on implementing regulations
  • Some provisions reference other statutes (e.g., 2001, c. 25) which may require further interpretation
  • The exact scope of 'incorporation by reference' in new section 164.1 depends on subsequent regulations
Laws Or Regulations Affected
Customs Act (R.S., c. 1)
amended

The core customs legislation was updated to clarify provisions, adjust valuation rules, modify search powers, and update authorization procedures.

Customs Valuation Regulations
amended

Rules for determining customs duty values were revised to align with updated valuation criteria and transaction value adjustments.

Procedures related to tax collection (part V.1) and appeal processes
modified

Procedures for proving the absence of an appeal through affidavits were updated.

Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. Coverage is limited to the official text extracted for this bill version.

Official text

Parliamentary Process

Step 1
First reading
Jan 29, 2009
Completed

We don't have a plain-language summary for First reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Introduction and first reading, Jan 29, 2009
End of stage activity, Jan 29, 2009
Chamber sittings
Introduction and first reading - Jan 29, 2009

We don't have a plain-language summary for Introduction and first reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Step 2
Second reading
Mar 3, 2009
Completed

We don't have a plain-language summary for Second reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Second reading, Mar 3, 2009
Referral to committee, Mar 3, 2009
End of stage activity, Mar 3, 2009
Chamber sittings
Debate at second reading - Feb 3, 2009

We don't have a plain-language summary for Debate at second reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

We don't have a plain-language summary for Sponsor’s speech yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Debate at second reading - Feb 24, 2009

We don't have a plain-language summary for Debate at second reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

We don't have a plain-language summary for Response speech yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Debate at second reading - Feb 25, 2009

We don't have a plain-language summary for Debate at second reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Debate at second reading - Mar 3, 2009

We don't have a plain-language summary for Debate at second reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Step 3
Consideration in committee
Mar 31, 2009
Completed

We don't have a plain-language summary for Consideration in committee yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Committee report presented with an amendment, Mar 31, 2009
End of stage activity, Mar 31, 2009
Chamber sittings
Committee report presented with an amendment - Mar 31, 2009

We don't have a plain-language summary for Committee report presented with an amendment yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Step 4
Report stage
Apr 21, 2009
Completed

We don't have a plain-language summary for Report stage yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Committee report adopted, Apr 21, 2009
End of stage activity, Apr 21, 2009
Chamber sittings
Debate at consideration of committee report - Apr 1, 2009

We don't have a plain-language summary for Debate at consideration of committee report yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Debate at consideration of committee report - Apr 2, 2009

We don't have a plain-language summary for Debate at consideration of committee report yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Debate at consideration of committee report - Apr 21, 2009

We don't have a plain-language summary for Debate at consideration of committee report yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Step 5
Third reading
Apr 23, 2009
Completed

We don't have a plain-language summary for Third reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Third reading, Apr 23, 2009
End of stage activity, Apr 23, 2009
Chamber sittings
Debate at third reading - Apr 22, 2009

We don't have a plain-language summary for Debate at third reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Debate at third reading - Apr 23, 2009

We don't have a plain-language summary for Debate at third reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Step 1
First reading
Apr 27, 2009
Completed

We don't have a plain-language summary for First reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

First reading, Apr 27, 2009
End of stage activity, Apr 27, 2009
Chamber sittings
First reading - Apr 27, 2009

We don't have a plain-language summary for First reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Step 2
Second reading
May 5, 2009
Completed

We don't have a plain-language summary for Second reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Second reading and referral to committee, May 5, 2009
End of stage activity, May 5, 2009
Chamber sittings
Debate at second reading - May 4, 2009

We don't have a plain-language summary for Debate at second reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Debate at second reading - May 5, 2009

We don't have a plain-language summary for Debate at second reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Step 3
Consideration in committee
May 26, 2009
Completed

We don't have a plain-language summary for Consideration in committee yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Committee report presented, May 26, 2009
End of stage activity, May 26, 2009
Chamber sittings
Committee report presented - May 26, 2009

We don't have a plain-language summary for Committee report presented yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Step 4
Report stage
May 28, 2009
Completed

We don't have a plain-language summary for Report stage yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Concurrence at report stage, May 28, 2009
End of stage activity, May 28, 2009
Chamber sittings
Debate at report stage - May 28, 2009

We don't have a plain-language summary for Debate at report stage yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Step 5
Third reading
May 28, 2009
Completed

We don't have a plain-language summary for Third reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Third reading, May 28, 2009
End of stage activity, May 28, 2009
Chamber sittings
Debate at third reading - May 28, 2009

We don't have a plain-language summary for Debate at third reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Step 1
Royal assent
Jun 11, 2009
Royal assent, Jun 11, 2009
End of stage activity, Jun 11, 2009
Chamber sittings
Royal assent - Jun 11, 2009

We don't have a plain-language summary for Debates of the Senate 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

No published recorded division

This bill does not have a published recorded division in the current official sources, so representative-by-representative vote counts are not shown.

Sponsor
Marjory LeBreton
Senator | Details not listed in current Senate roster
Jurisdiction
Federal Parliament

No published representative vote breakdown

The current official sources do not publish a recorded division breakdown for this bill, so there is no representative-by-representative table to show.

Official sources

This plain-English summary is based on official legislative sources and public records. It is intended for civic education and is not legal advice.

How this data is sourced