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FederalDid not become law (session ended)43rd Parliament, 2nd Session

Bill S-205 explained in plain English

An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate)

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

At a glance

Jurisdiction
Federal Parliament
Legislature / Parliament
Parliament of Canada
Session
43rd Parliament, 2nd Session
Bill number
Bill S-205
Full title
An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate)
Current status
Did not become law (session ended)
Latest event
At second reading in the House of Commons
Last updated
Jun 22, 2021

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.

Chamber
Parliament of Canada
Current Stage
At second reading in the House of Commons
Latest Activity
Jun 22, 2021
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

This bill would establish a Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate to promote the arts in Canada and includes a technical correction to the Parliament of Canada Act.

What It Means

Bill S-205 proposes to create the position of Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate. This role would be an officer of the Library of Parliament, with a mandate to promote the arts in Canada through Parliament. The selection process involves the Speakers of the Senate and House of Commons choosing from a list of three names submitted by a committee. The committee members are specified, including the Parliamentary Librarian, the Director of the National Gallery of Canada, the Commissioner of Official Languages, the Chairperson of the Canada Council for the Arts, and the President of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. The bill also makes a minor correction to the English version of the Parliament of Canada Act regarding the selection of the Parliamentary Poet Laureate.

What This Bill Does
  • Establishes the position of Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate.
  • Defines the mandate of the Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate.
  • Outlines the selection process for the Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate.
  • Specifies the tenure of office for the Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate.
  • Details the powers of the Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate in carrying out their mandate.
  • Defines what is considered 'arts' for the purposes of this new position.
  • Corrects a reference in the English version of the Parliament of Canada Act related to the Parliamentary Poet Laureate.
Who Is Affected
  • Parliament of Canada
  • Library of Parliament
  • Speakers of the Senate and House of Commons
  • Parliamentary Librarian
  • Director of the National Gallery of Canada
  • Commissioner of Official Languages for Canada
  • Chairperson of the Canada Council for the Arts
  • President of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts
  • Visual artists in Canada
  • The public interested in arts and culture
Rights, Duties, Or Obligations
  • The Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate has a mandate to promote the arts in Canada through Parliament.
  • The Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate may produce artistic creations, sponsor artistic events, and advise the Parliamentary Librarian on the Library's collection and acquisitions.
  • The Speakers of the Senate and House of Commons, acting together, shall select the Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate from a list provided by a committee.
Important Dates
  • The bill specifies that the Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate holds office for a term not exceeding two years.
Uncertainties Or Limits
  • The bill does not specify the exact remuneration or funding for the Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate position.
  • The specific details of 'occasions of state' for which artistic creations may be produced are not detailed.
  • The bill does not detail the process or criteria for the committee's submission of names for selection, beyond reflecting Canada's diversity.
Laws Or Regulations Affected
Parliament of Canada Act
amends

Adds a new section establishing the position of Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate, outlining selection, tenure, mandate, and powers.

Source: Section 1

Parliament of Canada Act
amends

Corrects a reference in the English version concerning the selection committee for the Parliamentary Poet Laureate.

Source: Section 2

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
Sep 30, 2020
Completed

Bill S-205, concerning a Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate, completed its first reading in the Senate on September 30, 2020.

Introduction and first reading, Sep 30, 2020
End of stage activity, Sep 30, 2020
Chamber sittings
Introduction and first reading - Sep 30, 2020

During a Senate sitting on September 30, 2020, Bill S-205, concerning a Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate, was introduced and received first reading, with the rest of the proceedings including tributes, notices of motions, and question period on various other matters.

Step 2
Second reading
Mar 16, 2021
Completed

Bill S-205, concerning a Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate, completed its second reading stage in the Senate in late 2020 and early 2021 before moving to the House of Commons.

Second reading, Mar 16, 2021
Referral to committee, Mar 16, 2021
End of stage activity, Mar 16, 2021
Chamber sittings
Debate at second reading - Nov 17, 2020

On November 17, 2020, the Senate of Canada's sitting featured tributes, discussions on various social issues, procedural business including committee reports and hybrid meeting authorizations, a detailed Committee of the Whole examination of Bill C-9 regarding emergency subsidies, and debates on several bills including the Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate Act.

During a Senate sitting on November 17, 2020, debate on Bill S-205, proposing a Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate, was adjourned after the sponsor's speech.

Debate at second reading - Mar 16, 2021

On March 16, 2021, the Senate held a sitting that included tributes, routine proceedings, question period, and debates on various bills, concluding with adjournment.

On March 16, 2021, the Senate held tributes, debated and advanced several bills including those on medical assistance in dying, UK trade, COVID-19 benefits, and establishing a Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate.

Step 3
Consideration in committee
Apr 20, 2021
Completed

Bill S-205, concerning the appointment of a Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate, completed its committee stage in the Senate on April 20, 2021, and has since progressed to the second reading stage in the House of Commons.

Committee report presented without amendment, Apr 20, 2021
End of stage activity, Apr 20, 2021
Chamber sittings
Committee report presented without amendment - Apr 20, 2021

The Senate presented a committee report on Bill S-205 without amendment and placed it on the Order Paper for third reading, alongside other Senate business.

Step 4
Third reading
May 6, 2021
Completed

Bill S-205, concerning a Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate, completed its third reading in the Senate on May 6, 2021, and is now at the second reading stage in the House of Commons.

Third reading, May 6, 2021
End of stage activity, May 6, 2021
Chamber sittings
Debate at third reading - May 4, 2021

During a Senate sitting on May 4, 2021, the debate on the third reading of Bill S-205 was adjourned, alongside discussions on various other legislative matters and topical issues.

Debate at third reading - May 6, 2021

On May 6, 2021, the Senate held a sitting that included statements by senators, debates on multiple bills including an amendment to Bill C-3 and Bill S-4 regarding Senate structure, and concluded with Royal Assent for several bills.

Step 1
First reading
May 13, 2021
Completed

Bill S-205, concerning a Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate, completed its first reading in the House of Commons on May 13, 2021.

First reading, May 13, 2021
End of stage activity, May 13, 2021
Chamber sittings
First reading - May 13, 2021

The House of Commons sitting on May 13, 2021, involved the introduction of several bills during routine proceedings, followed by debates on government orders and oral questions, with no specific procedural action recorded for Bill S-205 beyond its initial introduction.

Step 2
Second reading
Jun 22, 2021
Not completed

On June 22, 2021, the House of Commons debated Bill S-205 at second reading, a bill proposing to create a Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate.

Placed in the Order of Precedence, May 13, 2021
Chamber sittings
Debate at second reading - Jun 22, 2021

The House of Commons debated the second reading of Bill S-205, which aims to establish a Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate, alongside numerous other legislative and procedural matters.

During a debate at second reading in the House of Commons, Ms. Lenore Zann spoke in favour of Bill S-205, proposing the creation of a Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate to promote Canadian arts and culture.

This artifact is a record of a debate on Bill S-205 in the House of Commons on June 22, 2021, where the discussion was largely procedural and included many other legislative items, with limited specific debate on the bill itself.

The House of Commons debated Bill S-205, which proposes establishing a Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate to promote the arts in Canada.

A member of the House of Commons spoke in support of Bill S-205, which would establish a Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate to promote the arts in Canada.

Step 3
Consideration in committee
Not reached yet
Not reached

Bill S-205, concerning a Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate, is listed as having reached the 'House of Commons Consideration in committee' stage, which has not yet occurred, and details its past readings and speeches.

Step 4
Report stage
Not reached yet
Not reached

Bill S-205, concerning a Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate, is currently at the House of Commons Report stage, which has not yet been reached, with its latest activity being debate at second reading.

Step 5
Third reading
Not reached yet
Not reached

Bill S-205, which aims to establish a Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate, has reached the Third Reading stage in the House of Commons, though this stage has not yet occurred, and is currently at Second Reading in the House of Commons.

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
Patricia Bovey
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