Bill S-218 explained in plain English
An Act to prohibit and prevent genetic discrimination
Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Parliament of Canada snapshot for 41st 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
This bill prohibits genetic discrimination by preventing mandatory genetic testing or disclosure of results for goods, services, and contracts, with exceptions for medical care and research, and amends labour and human rights laws to include protections related to genetic characteristics.
Bill S-218, the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act, aims to protect individuals from genetic discrimination. It prohibits requiring someone to undergo a genetic test or disclose its results as a condition of receiving goods or services, or entering into or continuing a contract. Exceptions are made for medical professionals and researchers. It also makes specific allowances for high-value insurance contracts if provincial laws permit. The bill amends the Canada Labour Code to protect employees from genetic testing requirements and discrimination, and it adds genetic characteristics as a prohibited ground of discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act.
- Prohibits any person from requiring an individual to undergo a genetic test as a condition of providing goods or services, entering into or continuing a contract, or offering specific terms in a contract.
- Prohibits any person from refusing to provide goods or services, enter into or continue a contract, or offer specific terms in a contract to an individual because they refused to undergo a genetic test.
- Prohibits any person from requiring an individual to disclose the results of a genetic test as a condition of providing goods or services, entering into or continuing a contract, or offering specific terms in a contract.
- Prohibits any person from refusing to provide goods or services, enter into or continue a contract, or offer specific terms in a contract to an individual because they refused to disclose the results of a genetic test.
- Provides exceptions to the prohibitions for physicians, medical professionals, and researchers in specific contexts.
- Creates an exception to the prohibition on requiring disclosure of genetic test results for insurers regarding high-value insurance contracts, if provincial law expressly permits it.
- Amends the Canada Labour Code to establish rights for employees regarding genetic testing and to prohibit employers from taking certain actions based on an employee's refusal to undergo a genetic test or disclose results, or based on test results.
- Amends the Canadian Human Rights Act to include 'genetic characteristics' as a prohibited ground for discrimination and to define discrimination based on genetic characteristics.
- Establishes penalties for contravening the prohibitions related to genetic testing and disclosure.
- Establishes a process for employees to file complaints with an inspector regarding employer actions related to genetic testing under the Canada Labour Code.
- Individuals who may be asked to undergo or disclose results of genetic tests in relation to goods, services, or contracts.
- Medical practitioners and researchers.
- Insurers and individuals entering into high-value insurance contracts.
- Employees and employers under federal jurisdiction.
- Individuals protected by the Canadian Human Rights Act.
- Individuals have the right not to be required to undergo a genetic test or disclose its results as a condition of receiving goods or services, or entering into or continuing a contract (Section 3(1), 4(1)).
- Individuals have the right not to face refusal of goods or services, or entry/continuation of contracts, because they refused a genetic test or disclosure of its results (Section 3(2), 4(2)).
- Employees have the right not to undergo or be required to undergo a genetic test (Section 247.98(2) of the Canada Labour Code).
- Employees have the right not to disclose or be required to disclose the results of a genetic test (Section 247.98(3) of the Canada Labour Code).
- Employers are prohibited from dismissing, penalizing, or taking disciplinary action against employees based on genetic testing or refusal to undergo/disclose results (Section 247.98(4) of the Canada Labour Code).
- Employees have the right to privacy regarding their genetic test results, requiring written permission for disclosure to employers (Section 247.98(5), (6) of the Canada Labour Code).
- Individuals are protected from discrimination on the ground of genetic characteristics under the Canadian Human Rights Act (Section 2, 3(1) of the Canadian Human Rights Act as amended).
- The bill was given first reading on April 17, 2013.
- Contravention of sections 3 or 4 can result in a fine up to $1,000,000 or imprisonment up to five years on indictment, or a fine up to $300,000 or imprisonment up to twelve months on summary conviction (Section 7).
- The exception for insurance contracts applies to contracts for an amount exceeding $1,000,000 or paying a benefit of more than $75,000 per annum (Section 6).
- Contravention of sections 3 or 4 is an offence punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment (Section 7).
- The Canada Labour Code provisions establish a complaint process involving an inspector and an adjudicator for employees alleging employer contraventions (Section 247.99).
- The bill does not specify the exact definition of 'high-value insurance contracts' beyond monetary thresholds; the application depends on provincial enactments expressly permitting insurers to require disclosure (Section 6).
- The bill does not specify when it will come into force; this is determined by the commencement provisions usually outlined in the bill or through separate government action.
- The bill does not explicitly define 'medical practitioner' or 'person conducting medical or scientific research' beyond their context in the exceptions.
- The bill does not detail the specific powers or procedures of inspectors or adjudicators beyond the general outline of the complaint process under the Canada Labour Code.
Adds a new division (Division XV.3) that provides employees with the right not to undergo or be required to undergo a genetic test, and the right not to disclose or be required to disclose the results of a genetic test. It prohibits employers from dismissing, penalizing, or taking disciplinary action against employees for refusing a genetic test or disclosure, or based on test results. It also prohibits employers from disclosing an employee's genetic test status or results without written permission and from receiving or using such results without permission. A process for filing complaints with an inspector regarding employer contraventions is also established.
Source: Section 8
Adds 'genetic characteristics' to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination in the purpose of the Act and in the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination. It also clarifies that discrimination on the ground of genetic characteristics includes discrimination based on the refusal to undergo a genetic test or to disclose its results.
Source: Sections 9, 10, and 11
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-218, aiming to prohibit genetic discrimination, completed its first reading in the Senate on April 17, 2013.
On April 17, 2013, Bill S-218, An Act to prohibit and prevent genetic discrimination, received its first reading in the Senate. This is a procedural step where a bill is formally introduced. The bill later proceeded to second reading, with debate occurring on April 23, 2013, and a major speech by the sponsor on June 11, 2013.
The Senate introduced Bill S-218, debated the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, and conducted other procedural business, including tabling reports and continuing debates on various bills.
On April 17, 2013, the Senate convened and engaged in several procedural activities. Notably, Bill S-218, An Act to prohibit and prevent genetic discrimination, was introduced and read for the first time. The Senate also heard tributes to the late Honourable Ralph Phillip Klein, the late Baroness Thatcher, and the late Rita MacNeil. Several committee reports were tabled, and notices of motion were given concerning studies on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and foreign relations and international trade. Question Period addressed the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, with discussions on its impact on Canadian workers and potential program abuses. The Senate also continued debate on other bills, including the Tax Conventions Implementation Bill, 2013, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act amendment bill. Several committee reports were adopted or debated, and inquiries on various topics were adjourned.
Bill S-218, an act to prohibit and prevent genetic discrimination, was at the second reading stage in the Senate, with debate and the sponsor's speech having occurred.
This artifact outlines the procedural status of Bill S-218, concerning genetic discrimination, in the Senate as of June 11, 2013. The bill had reached the second reading stage. The provided text indicates that a debate occurred at this stage on June 11, 2013, and also notes the sponsor's speech on April 23, 2013, which marked the beginning of the second reading process. The stage itself is not yet completed.
On April 23, 2013, the Senate's proceedings included various statements, reports, and question periods, but the debate on Bill S-218, an act to prohibit and prevent genetic discrimination, was adjourned and did not take place on this sitting.
On April 23, 2013, the Senate was at the second reading stage for Bill S-218, An Act to prohibit and prevent genetic discrimination. However, the debate record for this day does not contain the actual debate on Bill S-218. Instead, it details various other proceedings including Senators' Statements on topics like World Intellectual Property Day, National Holocaust Remembrance Day, and tributes to individuals, followed by Routine Proceedings where committees presented reports and notices of inquiry were given. The Question Period covered topics such as the health and safety of Canadian children and parliamentary oversight of national security. The "Orders of the Day" section shows that debate on several bills and inquiries continued, and importantly, the "Second Reading—Debate Adjourned" section indicates that the debate on Bill S-218 was adjourned on this day. This means the discussion and deliberation on Bill S-218 did not occur or was not completed on this specific date.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Sponsor’s speech yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
During a Senate sitting on June 11, 2013, routine proceedings, question period, and orders of the day took place, including the tabling of committee reports and debates on several bills, with the debate on Bill S-218 being adjourned.
This Senate sitting on June 11, 2013, included routine proceedings, question period, and orders of the day. Several bills and committee reports were tabled or presented. Key discussions involved a resignation from a Senate committee chairmanship, tributes to deceased individuals, a comprehensive audit of Senate expenses, and various legislative items. Notably, debate continued on Bill S-218, An Act to prohibit and prevent genetic discrimination, with the government indicating its intention to adjourn the debate to prepare notes.
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