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FederalDid not become law (session ended)40th Parliament, 2nd Session

Bill S-210 explained in plain English

An Act respecting World Autism Awareness Day

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

At a glance

Jurisdiction
Federal Parliament
Legislature / Parliament
Parliament of Canada
Session
40th Parliament, 2nd Session
Bill number
Bill S-210
Full title
An Act respecting World Autism Awareness Day
Current status
Did not become law (session ended)
Latest event
At consideration in committee in the House of Commons
Last updated
Nov 23, 2009
Sponsor

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
At consideration in committee in the House of Commons
Latest Activity
Nov 23, 2009
Sponsor
Plain-language explanation
In plain English (our explanation)

Our plain-language take, written for civic education.

Source: By PoliticalData.ca

AI-assisted, reviewed before publishing
Short Version

Bill S-210 designates April 2 of each year as World Autism Awareness Day throughout Canada.

What It Means

Bill S-210 is a short federal bill that officially designates April 2 each year as "World Autism Awareness Day" across Canada. The bill does not create new programs, funding, or obligations. It is a symbolic measure that recognizes autism spectrum disorders as a significant health issue in Canada. The preamble notes that autism affects at least 1 in 165 Canadian families, that diagnoses have increased significantly, and that the United Nations designated April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day in 2007. The bill aligns Canada with this international observance and references Canada's commitment to the UN Conventions on the Rights of the Child and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

What This Bill Does
  • Designates April 2 of each and every year as 'World Autism Awareness Day' throughout Canada (Section 2)
  • Provides a short title for the Act: the World Autism Awareness Day Act (Section 1)
Who Is Affected
  • All Canadians (the bill applies throughout Canada)
  • Families of people with autism spectrum disorders
  • People with autism spectrum disorders
Important Dates
  • April 2 of each year is designated as World Autism Awareness Day (no future commencement date specified; the bill is effective upon enactment)
Uncertainties Or Limits
  • The bill does not specify what activities or observances should occur on World Autism Awareness Day, or whether any government action is required
  • The bill does not create new funding, services, or programs related to autism spectrum disorders
  • The bill does not establish any enforcement mechanism or monitoring process

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 text

Parliamentary Process

Step 1
First reading
Jan 27, 2009
Completed

Bill S-210, an act respecting World Autism Awareness Day, completed its first reading in the Senate on January 27, 2009, and has since moved through further legislative stages in both the Senate and the House of Commons.

Introduction and first reading, Jan 27, 2009
End of stage activity, Jan 27, 2009
Chamber sittings
Introduction and first reading - Jan 27, 2009

Bill S-210, An Act respecting World Autism Awareness Day, was introduced in the Senate during the first reading stage, alongside other procedural business and debates on unrelated matters.

Step 2
Second reading
Mar 3, 2009
Completed

Bill S-210, an Act respecting World Autism Awareness Day, successfully completed its second reading in the Senate and was referred to committee before proceeding to the House of Commons.

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 4, 2009

The Senate sat on February 4, 2009, with proceedings including statements, introduction of bills, question period, and the adjournment of debate on Bill S-210, An Act respecting World Autism Awareness Day.

During Senate second reading debate on Bill S-210, sponsors highlighted the need to declare April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day to raise awareness and support for individuals with autism and their families.

Debate at second reading - Mar 3, 2009

In a Senate debate on March 3, 2009, senators discussed Bill S-210, aiming to establish World Autism Awareness Day on April 2nd, highlighting the need for research, public awareness, and support for individuals with autism and their families.

Step 3
Consideration in committee
May 14, 2009
Completed

The Senate completed its committee stage review of Bill S-210, an act respecting World Autism Awareness Day, on May 14, 2009.

Committee report presented, May 14, 2009
End of stage activity, May 14, 2009
Chamber sittings
Committee report presented - May 14, 2009

On May 14, 2009, the Senate considered messages from the House of Commons, presented committee reports including one on Bill S-210 (World Autism Awareness Day) without amendment, and engaged in debates and procedural discussions on various matters.

Step 4
Third reading
May 26, 2009
Completed

Bill S-210, An Act respecting World Autism Awareness Day, completed its Third Reading in the Senate on May 26, 2009, and has proceeded to the House of Commons.

Third reading, May 26, 2009
End of stage activity, May 26, 2009
Chamber sittings
Debate at third reading - May 26, 2009

On May 26, 2009, the Senate held its third reading of Bill S-210, 'An Act respecting World Autism Awareness Day,' and passed the bill.

Step 1
First reading
May 27, 2009
Completed

This record outlines the first reading of Bill S-210 in the House of Commons on May 27, 2009, and subsequent procedural steps.

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

On May 27, 2009, Bill S-210, An Act respecting World Autism Awareness Day, was introduced and read for the first time in the House of Commons as part of a sitting that also featured extensive debate on the economy and other matters, but did not include detailed discussion of the bill at this stage.

Step 2
Second reading
Nov 23, 2009
Completed

This record details the House of Commons' second reading of Bill S-210, leading to its referral to committee, along with its procedural timeline and related legislative efforts.

Placed in the Order of Precedence, May 27, 2009
Second reading and referral to committee, Nov 23, 2009
End of stage activity, Nov 23, 2009
Chamber sittings
Debate at second reading - Oct 9, 2009

On October 9, 2009, the House of Commons debated Bill S-210, aiming to establish World Autism Awareness Day, and also addressed a procedural issue concerning Bill C-23, the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act.

Debate at second reading - Nov 23, 2009

In the House of Commons, members debated Bill S-210 to establish World Autism Awareness Day, sharing personal stories and highlighting the need for public understanding and support for individuals with autism.

Step 3
Consideration in committee
Date not listed
No activity

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

Step 4
Report stage
Not reached yet
Not reached

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

Step 5
Third reading
Not reached yet
Not reached

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

No published recorded division

This bill is still active. We only show vote counts after the legislature publishes a recorded division.

Sponsor
Jim Munson
Senator | Details not listed in current Senate roster
Jurisdiction
Federal Parliament

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