Bill S-216 explained in plain English
An Act to amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act and the Auditor General Act (involvement of Parliament)
Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
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.
Our plain-language take, written for civic education.
Source: By PoliticalData.ca
Bill S-216 amends the Federal Sustainable Development Act and the Auditor General Act to enhance parliamentary involvement in sustainable development strategies and reporting.
This bill proposes amendments to the Federal Sustainable Development Act and the Auditor General Act. The changes aim to increase the involvement of both the Senate and the House of Commons in matters of sustainable development. This includes ensuring that sustainable development strategies and reports are presented to Parliament and that parliamentary committees are involved in their review. The bill also modifies the reporting requirements for the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development and clarifies the role of the Auditor General in monitoring progress towards sustainable development.
- It amends the Federal Sustainable Development Act to require the Minister to table the federal sustainable development strategy in both Houses of Parliament.
- It mandates that sustainable development strategies of departments and agencies be laid before both Houses of Parliament.
- It changes the reporting requirements for the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development under the Auditor General Act.
- It ensures that reports from the Commissioner are tabled in both Houses of Parliament.
- Federal government departments and agencies
- The Minister responsible for the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy
- The Office of the Auditor General of Canada, specifically the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development
- Members of the Senate and the House of Commons
- Parliamentary committees
- Ministers must cause their departments or agencies to prepare and table sustainable development strategies in both Houses of Parliament within one year of the federal strategy being tabled.
- Ministers must update departmental or agency sustainable development strategies at least every three years and table them in both Houses of Parliament.
- The Minister must provide reports on the progress of the federal government in implementing the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy to the Minister, who then tables them in Parliament.
- The Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development must report annually to Parliament on sustainable development progress.
- The bill states that the Auditor General Act reporting requirements come into force three years after the Act comes into force.
- Departmental strategies must be tabled within one year after the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy is first tabled in Parliament.
- Updated strategies must be tabled within 15 days of sitting after the update.
- Reports from the Commissioner must be laid before Parliament within 15 days of sitting after receipt by the Speaker.
- The bill does not specify the exact composition or mandate of 'the appropriate committee of each House of Parliament' that would review the draft strategy.
- The bill does not detail the consequences if a Minister fails to table a strategy or report as required.
- The bill refers to 'category I departments' in the Auditor General Act without defining this term within the provided text.
Changes reporting and tabling requirements for sustainable development strategies to increase parliamentary involvement.
Source: Sections 1, 2, 3, 4
Modifies the role and reporting duties of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development regarding sustainable development, including tabling reports in Parliament.
Source: Sections 5, 6
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-216 completed its First Reading stage in the Senate on January 27, 2009, marking the initial procedural step for the proposed legislation.
This record shows the procedural steps for Bill S-216 in the Senate. It began with First Reading on January 27, 2009. The bill later moved to Second Reading on February 4, 2009, where speeches were made by Senators Tommy Banks and Daniel Lang. The bill then proceeded through further stages in both the Senate and the House of Commons, eventually reaching the stage of 'consideration in committee in the House of Commons'. However, this specific artifact only details the initial First Reading stage in the Senate.
Bill S-216 was introduced for first reading in the Senate as part of a broader Senate sitting that included tributes, statements, and the introduction of numerous other bills.
On January 27, 2009, the Senate held its first reading of Bill S-216, An Act to amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act and the Auditor General Act. The reading was a procedural step to introduce the bill. The Senate's proceedings also included tributes, statements on international and domestic issues, tabling of documents, motions regarding Senate business, and the introduction of several other bills. The debate on the Speech from the Throne was also adjourned.
Bill S-216 completed its second reading in the Senate on February 4, 2009, after which it was referred to a committee.
This record shows the progress of Bill S-216 through the Senate. The bill's second reading stage in the Senate was completed on Wednesday, February 4, 2009. This stage involves a general debate on the bill's principles and purpose. Following this, the bill was referred to a committee for more detailed study.
During a Senate sitting on February 4, 2009, Bill S-216, concerning amendments to the Federal Sustainable Development Act and the Auditor General Act, was brought up for second reading but its debate was adjourned.
This document records a Senate sitting on February 4, 2009. The sitting included senators' statements on various topics, routine proceedings where new bills were introduced and reports were tabled, and question period where senators debated government actions on topics like the economy, child care, and social housing. The 'Orders of the Day' section shows that Bill S-216, An Act to amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act and the Auditor General Act (involvement of Parliament), was presented for second reading debate. However, the debate on this specific bill was adjourned, meaning it was not concluded during this sitting. Other bills and inquiries were also discussed, debated, or adjourned.
Senator Tommy Banks introduced Bill S-216 in the Senate at second reading to ensure the Senate's involvement in reviewing sustainable development reports and to allow for more timely reporting by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development.
On February 4, 2009, Senator Tommy Banks introduced Bill S-216, an act to amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act and the Auditor General Act. This bill aims to ensure that Parliament, specifically including the Senate, is involved in the review of reports related to sustainable development, as these reports were previously only being tabled in the House of Commons. Additionally, the bill seeks to allow the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to report findings outside of the annual report if necessary. The Senate debated the bill at second reading and the debate was adjourned.
On March 11, 2009, the Senate paid tribute to a retiring senator and conducted routine business, during which Bill S-216, concerning the tabling of sustainable development reports in the Senate, was debated at second reading and referred to committee.
This artifact is a record of a sitting of the Senate on March 11, 2009. It primarily consists of Senators' Statements paying tribute to Senator Michel Biron upon his retirement, discussions on various other topics such as Les Rendez-vous de la Francophonie, economic conditions in Saskatchewan, and International Women's Day. It also details proceedings related to routine matters, questions, and orders of the day. Notably, Bill S-216, an Act to amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act and the Auditor General Act (involvement of Parliament), was at the second reading stage, debated, and subsequently referred to committee. The record shows that the debate on Bill S-216 involved discussions about its purpose to ensure reports and updates are tabled in the Senate, similar to how they are in the House of Commons.
The Senate debated and advanced Bill S-216, which aims to ensure that parliamentary oversight of federal sustainable development progress includes both houses of Parliament.
On March 11, 2009, the Senate continued its debate on Bill S-216, an Act to amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act and the Auditor General Act concerning the involvement of Parliament. Senator Hector Daniel Lang spoke in favour of the bill, explaining that it would require reports and updates related to sustainable development progress to be tabled in the Senate, in addition to the House of Commons, as is already the case. He recommended the bill for speedy passage. Following his remarks, the bill was read a second time and referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources.
Bill S-216, concerning amendments to the Federal Sustainable Development Act and the Auditor General Act regarding parliamentary involvement, completed its Senate committee consideration stage on April 2, 2009, and is currently under consideration in the House of Commons.
This artifact describes the 'Senate Consideration in committee' stage for Bill S-216, which occurred on April 2, 2009, and is now complete. The bill aims to amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act and the Auditor General Act concerning Parliament's involvement. The provided text outlines the bill's progression through various stages in both the Senate and the House of Commons, including first and second readings, committee considerations, and third readings, with dates and sitting numbers specified. It also lists major speeches given during the second reading in both chambers. The bill is currently at the consideration in committee stage in the House of Commons.
During a Senate sitting on April 2, 2009, the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources presented its Fifth Report on Bill S-216, an Act to amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act and the Auditor General Act, reporting it without amendment.
This document is a record of a Senate sitting on April 2, 2009. During this sitting, the Senate considered various matters, including the presentation of committee reports. Specifically, the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources presented its Fifth Report on Bill S-216, an Act to amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act and the Auditor General Act (involvement of Parliament). The committee reported the bill without amendment. Other business included debates on economic stimulus, human rights in Afghanistan, employment insurance, and various bills related to national cemeteries, dangerous goods, trade agreements, criminal code amendments, customs, anti-spam measures, and investment. The Senate also adjourned until April 21, 2009.
Bill S-216 completed its Third Reading in the Senate on April 23, 2009, before moving to the House of Commons.
This artifact marks the completion of the Third Reading stage for Bill S-216 in the Senate on April 23, 2009. This means the Senate has finished its review and debate of the bill at this stage. The bill then proceeded to the House of Commons for its First Reading on May 14, 2009. The provided text also lists significant speeches made during the bill's second reading in both the Senate and the House of Commons.
The Senate met on April 23, 2009, to discuss various national issues, present committee reports, and debate several bills, including the successful third reading and passage of Bill S-216.
This artifact is a record of the Senate proceedings on April 23, 2009. It details various Senate activities including Senators' Statements on topics such as National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week and the CanJet Flight 918 Hostage Taking, Routine Proceedings where various committee reports were presented, Question Period addressing diverse issues, and Orders of the Day where several bills were discussed, advanced, or adjourned. Notably, Bill S-216, an Act to amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act and the Auditor General Act (involvement of Parliament), completed its third reading in the Senate and was passed.
Bill S-216 completed its first reading in the House of Commons on May 14, 2009.
This record shows that Bill S-216 completed its first reading in the House of Commons on May 14, 2009. This is an initial procedural step where the bill is formally introduced.
The House of Commons proceeded with the first reading of Bill S-216, alongside other legislative business and oral questions on various national issues.
On May 14, 2009, the House of Commons held its first reading debate on Bill S-216, which aims to amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act and the Auditor General Act regarding parliamentary involvement. The sitting also included debates on other bills, statements by members on various topics, and oral questions on issues like employment insurance, fisheries, and foreign affairs. The sitting concluded with committee of the whole consideration of the main estimates for Agriculture and Agri-Food.
Bill S-216 completed its second reading stage in the House of Commons, involving speeches and referral to committee.
This artifact describes the House of Commons' second reading stage for Bill S-216, An Act to amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act and the Auditor General Act. The second reading process involved speeches from sponsors and respondents in both the Senate and the House of Commons across multiple dates. Following the second reading, the bill was referred to committee for further consideration and ultimately agreed to. The current status indicates the bill is at the consideration in committee stage in the House of Commons.
During the second reading debate in the House of Commons on Bill S-216, Members of Parliament discussed amendments to the Federal Sustainable Development Act and Auditor General Act that would involve the Senate in reviewing sustainable development reports, with general support expressed for increased parliamentary involvement.
This document is a record of the House of Commons debate at the second reading stage of Bill S-216. The bill, originating in the Senate, proposes to amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act and the Auditor General Act to include the Senate in the process of reviewing government reports related to sustainable development. Several Members of Parliament from different parties spoke, generally supporting the bill's intent to enhance transparency and accountability by involving both Houses of Parliament in the review process. Discussions also touched upon the role of the Senate, the importance of sustainable development, and various other government initiatives and parliamentary procedures.
During the second reading debate of Bill S-216 in the House of Commons, members discussed and supported amendments to include the Senate in the review process for the federal sustainable development strategy, emphasizing the Senate's diverse perspectives and the need for broader parliamentary involvement.
This document is a record of the House of Commons debate at the second reading stage of Bill S-216, An Act to amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act and the Auditor General Act. The debate focused on the proposed amendments to ensure the involvement of both the House of Commons and the Senate in reviewing the federal government's sustainable development strategy. Several members spoke, expressing support for involving the Senate in this process, highlighting the Senate's potential to offer valuable environmental perspectives and its greater diversity compared to the House of Commons. Concerns were also raised about the workload of House of Commons committees, suggesting the Senate's involvement would be beneficial.
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