Bill S-1001 explained in plain English
An Act respecting Girl Guides of Canada
Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Parliament of Canada snapshot for 43rd 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Bill S-1001 replaces three outdated incorporation acts from the early 1900s with a modern law that continues Girl Guides of Canada as a corporation and updates its governance and operations framework.
Bill S-1001 replaces three outdated laws from 1917, 1947, and 1960-61 with a single new Act that formally continues Girl Guides of Canada as a corporation. Girl Guides of Canada is a national charity that has served over 7 million girls and women since 1917 and currently serves more than 95,000 members. The bill modernizes the rules governing how the organization operates. It confirms that Girl Guides of Canada is a single legal entity with a head office in Toronto (or elsewhere by bylaw), that it can hold property, receive grants and donations, and use its official names and logos exclusively. The bill sets out duties for directors and officers to act honestly and with proper care, allows the corporation to provide legal protection and insurance to directors and officers, and holds directors financially responsible for unpaid employee wages (up to six months per employee). The bill ensures that the organization's existing members, directors, chairperson, and chief executive officer keep their positions, that all existing property and legal agreements remain valid, and that any ongoing lawsuits continue. The organization can establish provincial and local councils, develop and deliver educational programs, and conduct business across Canada and internationally.
- Continues Girl Guides of Canada as a single corporation under federal law, replacing three separate acts dating from 1917, 1947, and 1960-61
- Confirms the corporation's purpose is to promote the development, health and well-being of girls and young women through educational and related programs on leadership, self-development, citizenship, community service, and social engagement
- Allows the corporation to locate its head office in Toronto or elsewhere as determined by bylaws
- Grants the corporation the legal capacity and powers of a natural person to carry out its affairs, including holding and disposing of property, receiving grants and donations, and establishing regional and local councils
- Gives Girl Guides of Canada exclusive rights to use its official marks, emblems, badges, titles (including 'Girl Guides', 'Guides Canada', 'Girl Guides of Canada', and 'Guides du Canada'), and any new marks it adopts and files with the federal minister responsible for trademarks
- Sets out duties for directors and officers to act honestly, in good faith, and with reasonable care, and to comply with the Act and bylaws
- Allows the corporation to indemnify (provide legal and financial protection to) its directors and officers for costs and expenses in legal proceedings, subject to conditions that they acted in good faith and in the organization's best interests
- Allows the corporation to purchase insurance for directors and officers against liability
- Makes directors jointly and severally liable to employees for unpaid wages not exceeding six months per employee, but only if the corporation cannot pay
- Provides that directors, officers, chairperson, and chief executive officer in office before the law takes effect keep their positions
- Preserves all existing property, rights, liabilities, and legal proceedings of the previous corporations
- Allows existing bylaws to continue to the extent they are consistent with this Act
- Permits the corporation to conduct business throughout Canada and internationally where permitted by local laws
- Girl Guides of Canada, the national organization, and its corporation
- Directors, officers, chairperson, and chief executive officer of Girl Guides of Canada
- Members of Girl Guides of Canada at all levels (national, provincial, and local councils)
- The 95,000+ girls and women currently involved in Girl Guides of Canada programming
- Employees of Girl Guides of Canada
- Donors, grant-makers, and organizations that give money or gifts to Girl Guides of Canada
- Any third parties involved in legal proceedings with Girl Guides of Canada
- The federal government (in particular, the minister responsible for trademarks and designs)
- Directors and officers must act honestly and in good faith with a view to the corporation's best interests
- Directors and officers must exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances
- Directors and officers must comply with this Act and the corporation's bylaws
- Girl Guides of Canada has the sole and exclusive right to use all its marks, emblems, badges, titles, and any new ones it adopts and files with the federal minister responsible for trademarks
- The corporation may indemnify (provide legal and financial protection to) directors and officers for costs and expenses in legal proceedings if they acted honestly and in good faith
- The corporation may advance money for legal costs to directors and officers pending the outcome of proceedings
- The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance for directors and officers against liability
- Directors are jointly and severally liable to employees for unpaid wages not exceeding six months per employee under specified conditions
- The corporation may receive and distribute gifts, grants, and contributions from government and private sources
- The corporation may establish, manage, and dissolve provincial and local councils
- The corporation may develop and deliver educational programming
- The corporation may publish and disseminate information
- The corporation may produce, distribute, and sell products including badges, uniforms, books, and cookies
- The corporation must hold annual general meetings and may hold special general meetings as needed
- The bill received Royal Assent on March 17, 2021
- The law comes into force on a date specified by order-in-council (not stated in the bill text itself)
- Existing directors, officers, chairperson, and chief executive officer continue in office from the date the Act comes into force, according to their appointment terms
- The corporation may receive and distribute gifts, grants, and contributions from the Government of Canada, provincial governments, municipalities, incorporated bodies, societies, and persons
- The corporation must apply such gifts and grants according to their terms or, if no terms apply, in accordance with the corporation's general purpose
- Directors are liable to employees for unpaid wages not exceeding six months per employee if the corporation cannot pay and specific conditions are met
- Directors and officers who fail to act honestly and in good faith or who fail to exercise proper care may breach their legal duties
- Directors are jointly and severally liable to employees for unpaid wages not exceeding six months per employee, subject to certain conditions being satisfied
- A director may be sued for wage liability while a director or within two years after ceasing to be a director
- The bill does not specify penalties for violations of directors' and officers' duties, but such matters may be enforceable through civil proceedings or court orders
- The specific date when this Act comes into force is not stated in the bill text; it will be set by order-in-council by the federal government
- The bill does not specify how 'reasonably prudent person' standards will be applied by courts in assessing directors' and officers' conduct
- The bill does not detail the specific terms or conditions under which court approval for indemnification must be obtained
- The process for filing new marks, emblems, or badges with the federal minister responsible for trademarks is not detailed in the bill
- The bill does not specify what 'comparable circumstances' means for assessing directors' and officers' duty of care
- Director liability for wages is limited to six months per employee, but the bill does not clarify how this is calculated (e.g., calendar months, months of service)
- The bill does not address taxation or charitable status of the organization, though Girl Guides of Canada is referred to as a 'present-day charity' in the preamble
This 1917 law that originally created Girl Guides of Canada is replaced and no longer applies
Source: Section 22(a)
This 1947 amendment law is replaced and no longer applies
Source: Section 22(b)
This 1960-61 law is replaced and no longer applies
Source: Section 22(c)
A new federal law is created that continues Girl Guides of Canada as a corporation and provides modern governance rules
Source: Sections 1-21
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-1001, concerning Girl Guides of Canada, successfully completed first reading in the Senate on October 29, 2020, and eventually received Royal Assent on March 17, 2021.
The artifact describes the procedural steps for Bill S-1001, An Act respecting Girl Guides of Canada, in the Senate. It indicates that the bill completed its first reading on October 29, 2020. Later stages, including second and third readings, also occurred, with the bill eventually receiving Royal Assent on March 17, 2021, becoming chapter 28 of the Statutes of Canada 2021.
The Senate conducted the first reading of Bill S-1001, an Act respecting Girl Guides of Canada, as part of a sitting that also included tributes and other legislative business.
On October 29, 2020, the Senate held its first reading for Bill S-1001, an Act respecting Girl Guides of Canada. This stage involves the formal introduction of the bill and its first reading in the Senate. The sitting also included tributes to former Senator David Braley, Aline Chrétien, and Donald Mazankowski, as well as a tribute on the departure of Cathy Piccinin, a table officer. Other proceedings included discussions on the Modern Slavery Bill, questions on the fiscal update and COVID-19 testing, debates on various motions including those concerning sanctions against Chinese officials and the freezing of parliamentarians' sessional allowances, and the continuation of debates on other bills. The specific details of the debate or discussion surrounding the introduction of Bill S-1001 are not detailed in this record.
This Senate second reading stage artifact for Bill S-1001 shows the procedural steps taken, including speeches from Senators, leading up to the bill's completion of this stage and eventual Royal Assent.
This artifact summarizes the Senate's second reading stage for Bill S-1001, An Act respecting Girl Guides of Canada. This stage involved speeches from Senators Jaffer, Martin, and Duncan on November 5, 2020. The bill later completed its second reading on January 27, 2021, and subsequently received royal assent on March 17, 2021. This record details procedural steps, not the content of the bill itself.
On November 5, 2020, the Senate debated and proceeded with several bills, including those related to Girl Guides of Canada, chemical weapons, voting age, modern slavery, and child and youth rights, alongside addressing veterans' issues and routine proceedings.
The Senate convened for a sitting on November 5, 2020. The primary focus was on various debates and proceedings related to several bills. The sitting included Senators' Statements on topics like Aboriginal Veterans Day and Remembrance Day, Veterans Week, Alberta's innovation, and the UN's 75th anniversary. Routine Proceedings saw committee reports presented and bills introduced. Question Period addressed concerns regarding veterans' disability benefits, hybrid committee meetings, and other government matters. The main business of the day involved second reading debates on several bills, including those concerning the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act, the Criminal Code (independence of the judiciary), the Canada Elections Act (voting age), the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act, and the Modern Slavery Act. There was also a debate on Bill S-1001, An Act respecting Girl Guides of Canada, which was read a second time. Other proceedings included the adoption of committee reports and motions regarding adjournment and committee meeting procedures. The sitting concluded with an adjournment until November 17, 2020.
In the Senate's Second Reading debate for Bill S-1001, An Act respecting Girl Guides of Canada, senators supported the bill's administrative updates to the organization's founding act from 1917, which was then adopted for further progression.
This artifact is a record of a Senate debate that occurred on November 5, 2020, during the Second Reading stage of Bill S-1001, An Act respecting Girl Guides of Canada. Senator Mobina S.B. Jaffer presented the bill, explaining that it seeks to update the Girl Guides of Canada's founding act from 1917 with administrative amendments to align with modern charitable practices and the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act. The bill aims to preserve the organization's heritage and protect its trademark rights. Senator Jaffer noted that similar bills were introduced in previous Parliaments and that the current version includes an amendment proposed by Senator Dalphond and agreed to by the Girl Guides. Senator Yonah Martin, speaking for Senator Linda Frum, and Senator Pat Duncan also spoke in support of the bill, highlighting its administrative nature and the enduring values of the Girl Guides organization. The debate also touched upon the history of Girl Guides in Canada, particularly in the Yukon. Following these discussions, the Senate adopted the motion for the second reading of the bill.
Bill S-1001 completed third reading in the Senate on November 17, 2020.
This record indicates that Bill S-1001, concerning the Girl Guides of Canada, completed its third reading stage in the Senate on November 17, 2020. This stage is a procedural step in the legislative process.
During the third reading debate of Bill S-1001, Senators spoke in support of the Girl Guides of Canada, sharing personal anecdotes and emphasizing the organization's value and the bill's purpose to modernize its charter.
The Senate debated Bill S-1001, An Act respecting Girl Guides of Canada, at its third reading stage. Senators shared personal stories and highlighted the importance of the Girl Guides movement in empowering girls and developing leadership skills. The bill seeks to update the organization's governing charter to reflect its modern operations. Senators also discussed the impact of COVID-19 on the organization, particularly regarding cookie sales, and praised the efforts of a moving company that helped mitigate losses.
Bill S-1001, concerning the Girl Guides of Canada, completed its first reading in the House of Commons on November 17, 2020, and later received Royal Assent on March 17, 2021.
This artifact indicates that Bill S-1001, An Act respecting Girl Guides of Canada, completed its first reading in the House of Commons on November 17, 2020. The bill later received Royal Assent on March 17, 2021, becoming chapter 28 of the Statutes of Canada, 2021. The provided text also lists several procedural stages the bill went through in the Senate prior to its House of Commons readings, including first, second, and third readings, as well as sponsor and response speeches during the Senate's second reading.
On November 17, 2020, the House of Commons debated an opposition motion concerning Canada's foreign policy toward China, specifically focusing on the 5G network decision regarding Huawei and countering foreign influence, with significant discussion on national security and human rights implications.
This document summarizes a debate in the House of Commons on November 17, 2020, regarding Canada's foreign policy towards China. The main focus was an opposition motion calling on the government to decide on Huawei's involvement in Canada's 5G network within 30 days and to develop a plan to counter China's foreign operations and intimidation within Canada, similar to Australia's approach. The debate involved extensive discussion from members of the Conservative, Liberal, NDP, and Bloc Québécois parties, highlighting concerns about national security, human rights in China, foreign interference in Canada, and the potential risks associated with Huawei's technology. The government expressed concerns but indicated that an arbitrary 30-day deadline was not feasible for such a complex national security decision, though they acknowledged the need for action. An amendment to change the deadline to "as soon as possible" was proposed by the Liberals but not accepted by the Conservatives. The sitting also included routine proceedings, statements by members on various topics, and oral questions on foreign affairs, official languages, and health, among others.
The House of Commons completed the second reading of Bill S-1001, An Act respecting Girl Guides of Canada, on January 27, 2021, after which the bill proceeded and eventually received Royal Assent.
This record shows that the House of Commons completed the second reading stage for Bill S-1001, An Act respecting Girl Guides of Canada, on January 27, 2021. This stage involves a general debate on the principles of the bill. The bill later received Royal Assent on March 17, 2021, becoming a statute.
The House of Commons completed the passage of Bill S-1001, An Act respecting Girl Guides of Canada, at the second reading stage through unanimous consent on January 27, 2021.
On January 27, 2021, during the second reading stage in the House of Commons, Bill S-1001, An Act respecting Girl Guides of Canada, was debated and passed. The Hansard record shows that the House agreed to a motion by unanimous consent to deem the bill read a second time, considered in committee of the whole, reported, concurred in, and read a third time and passed. This means the bill completed its passage through the House of Commons without further debate or division on that particular sitting day.
The House of Commons completed report stage and third reading for Bill S-1001, An Act respecting Girl Guides of Canada, before it received Royal Assent.
On January 27, 2021, the House of Commons completed the report stage for Bill S-1001, An Act respecting Girl Guides of Canada. The bill had previously received second reading on the same day. Following report stage, the bill also proceeded to and completed third reading on January 27, 2021. The bill later received Royal Assent on March 17, 2021, becoming chapter 28 of the Statutes of Canada 2021.
On January 27, 2021, the House of Commons unanimously passed Bill S-1001, An Act respecting Girl Guides of Canada, through all remaining stages of its legislative process.
This artifact is a record of the House of Commons sitting on January 27, 2021. During this sitting, the House considered the "An Act respecting Girl Guides of Canada" (Bill S-1001). The record indicates that through unanimous consent, the bill was deemed read a second time, considered in committee of the whole, reported, concurred in at the report stage, and read a third time and passed. The rest of the sitting involved other government business, including debates on the COVID-19 response, economic matters, and other legislative items, as well as statements by members and points of order. The specific actions concerning Bill S-1001 were procedural and did not involve a vote. The artifact does not contain the full text of the bill itself.
Bill S-1001, An Act respecting Girl Guides of Canada, completed its third reading in the House of Commons on January 27, 2021, and later received royal assent.
This artifact describes the completion of the third reading stage for Bill S-1001, An Act respecting Girl Guides of Canada, in the House of Commons on January 27, 2021. The bill subsequently received royal assent on March 17, 2021.
The House of Commons completed the final stages of Bill S-1001, An Act respecting Girl Guides of Canada, during its third reading.
On January 27, 2021, the House of Commons held its third reading debate for Bill S-1001, An Act respecting Girl Guides of Canada. The proceedings indicate that a motion was agreed to, and the bill was then considered, reported, concurred in, read a third time, and passed. The Hansard record for this sitting also includes debates on various other topics, including the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine rollout, and economic measures.
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
This bill does not have a published recorded division in the current official sources, so representative-by-representative vote counts are not shown.
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
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