Bill S-214 explained in plain English

On March 24, 2010, the Senate held its first reading of Bill S-214, An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and other Acts (unfunded pension plan liabilities). This event marks the initial introduction of the bill in the Senate. The sitting also included various other proceedings such as "Senators' Statements" on diverse topics, routine proceedings including the first reading of other bills, "Question Period" where senators asked questions of the government, and "Orders of the Day" where committees were authorized to conduct studies. The introduction of Bill S-214 itself was a procedural step, with the bill being read for the first time and then placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading.

On March 30, 2010, the Senate was in session. The main business of the day included various senators' statements on diverse topics such as the mission in Afghanistan, literacy, service neutrality, and the sinking of the Titanic. Routine proceedings involved tabling annual reports from the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal and Commission. Question Period covered topics like the Canadian Council on Learning, autism spectrum disorder, and Canada's role in Haiti. The Orders of the Day featured debates and motions on Appropriation Bills, the Speech from the Throne, and several other bills. Notably, the second reading debate for Bill S-214, an Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and other Acts concerning unfunded pension plan liabilities, was adjourned. The second reading of Bill S-201, an Act to amend the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Act regarding credit and debit cards, was passed and referred to committee. Bill S-216, an Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act to protect long-term disability benefits, also had its second reading debate adjourned. The Senate also debated inquiries on the budget, the Acadian flag, freedom of speech, and the televising of Senate proceedings. Finally, a motion to authorize the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence to study services and benefits for members and veterans was adopted.

This artifact is a record of the sponsor's speech during the second reading debate of Bill S-214 in the Senate on March 30, 2010. The sponsor, Senator Pierrette Ringuette, introduced the bill, which aims to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and other Acts to provide pensioners with preferred creditor status during bankruptcy proceedings. She explained that the bill would help ensure that individuals who have worked their entire lives and prepared for retirement have a better chance of receiving what is owed to them, placing them on a more equal footing with other creditors. Senator Ringuette highlighted that Canada currently lags behind other developed countries in protecting terminated employees and pensioners during bankruptcy. She provided an example of employees in New Brunswick who lack the pension protection that their counterparts in Maine, working for the same company, have under U.S. federal legislation. She emphasized that the bill is not a government handout or a burden on taxpayers, but rather a measure to provide security, transparency, and fairness. She also noted the urgency of the situation, referencing the Nortel and AbitibiBowater cases, and stated that pensioners do not have time to wait for further studies. The debate on the bill was adjourned.

This document is a record of a Senate sitting on May 12, 2010. While Bill S-214 is listed on the Order Paper for second reading debate, the provided text does not contain the debate for this specific bill. Instead, it details other Senate proceedings, including Senators' Statements on various topics, Routine Proceedings, Question Period addressing issues like national securities regulation and copyright law, and the continuation of debate on other bills such as Bill S-10 (Controlled Drugs and Substances Act) and Bill S-5 (Motor Vehicle Safety Act and Canadian Environmental Protection Act). The record also includes committee reports being tabled and adopted, and inquiries being debated.

This artifact is a record of a Senate sitting on June 10, 2010, during the second reading debate stage for Bill S-214. The sitting included Senators' Statements on various topics, Routine Proceedings where reports were tabled and notices of motions were given, and Question Period where senators asked questions on diverse subjects. The main part of the record details the debate on Bill S-214, where Senator Vim Kochhar spoke in favour of the bill, explaining its purpose and the context of pension security within the Canadian economy. He highlighted that recent amendments already provided super priority status for outstanding regular pension contributions and distinguished this from unfunded liabilities. He argued for a balanced approach to protect pensioners while maintaining economic health. The bill was then referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce. Other bills were also debated and referred to committees during this sitting.

This artifact is a record of a debate in the Senate on June 10, 2010, concerning Bill S-214, An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and other Acts (unfunded pension plan liabilities). The debate occurred at the second reading stage of the bill. Senator Vim Kochhar spoke in favour of the bill, discussing its provisions and the broader context of pension security in Canada's economy. Senator Pierrette Ringuette also spoke, emphasizing her appreciation for Senator Kochhar's comments and moving that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce. The Senate agreed to the motion for second reading of the bill and referred it to the committee.