Bill S-218 explained in plain English
An Act to amend the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act
Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Parliament of Canada snapshot for 44th 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
Bill S-218 requires the Minister for Women and Gender Equality to examine and report on the potential effects of bills and amendments on women, particularly Indigenous women, with specific deadlines for tabling and publishing these analyses.
Bill S-218 amends the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act to require the Minister for Women and Gender Equality to assess the potential impacts of certain bills and amendments on women, with a focus on Indigenous women. The changes mandate the Minister to table and publish statements analyzing these impacts under specific timelines.
- Mandates the Minister to examine all bills introduced by a minister or Crown representative and table a statement about their potential effects on women, especially Indigenous women (section 5.1).
- Requires the Minister to table such statements no later than two sitting days after a bill is introduced (section 5.1(2)).
- If a bill is referred to a committee, the Minister must examine it and table a statement within 10 sitting days of the referral (section 5.2).
- If a bill is amended by one House and received by the other, the Minister must table a statement about the amendments' effects within seven sitting days (section 5.3).
- Requires the Minister to publish all statements on the departmental website within one day of tabling (section 5.4).
- The Minister for Women and Gender Equality
- Parliamentarians (as bills are introduced and referred to committees)
- The public (through the publication of statements on the departmental website)
- The bill does not specify the exact methodology or criteria for examining the effects of bills.
- The definition of 'potential effects' is not detailed in the text.
- The bill does not outline consequences for failing to comply with the reporting requirements.
New obligations are added to require the Minister to analyze and report on the effects of bills and amendments on women, with specific timelines for tabling and publishing these analyses.
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, an Act to amend the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act, completed first reading in the Senate on November 24, 2021 and is currently at second reading.
This record indicates that Bill S-218, an Act to amend the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act, completed its first reading in the Senate on November 24, 2021. It is now at the second reading stage.
On November 24, 2021, the Senate held tributes for the late Senator Judith Keating, introduced several bills including Bill S-218, and began debate on a motion to authorize hybrid sittings.
This document details a Senate sitting on November 24, 2021. The sitting began with tributes to the late Senator Judith Keating, followed by Routine Proceedings, during which a motion to extend Routine Proceedings was adopted. Several bills were introduced and received first reading, including Bill S-218, an Act to amend the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act. The Senate then moved to Orders of the Day, where a motion to authorize hybrid sittings was debated and adjourned.
Bill S-218 is undergoing second reading in the Senate, with recorded debate on November 28, 2024, and procedural history including prior readings and similar bills introduced in previous sessions.
Bill S-218 is currently at the second reading stage in the Senate. The latest recorded activity was a debate on November 28, 2024, during which the bill was discussed. The first reading of the bill occurred on November 24, 2021, and the second reading was originally scheduled for November 30, 2021, in Sitting 5. Key speeches during the second reading debate included a sponsor's speech by Mary Jane McCallum (Independent Senators Group) on November 30, 2021. Similar bills, S-213 and S-209, were previously introduced in earlier sessions of the 43rd Parliament and also reached the second reading stage in the Senate. This record does not represent the full bill text or its legal content, only the procedural steps and debate activity related to its progress through the Senate.
The Senate sat on November 30, 2021, hearing statements, engaging in question period, and debating several bills at second reading, including Bill S-218 concerning the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act, which was adjourned.
On November 30, 2021, the Senate of Canada convened for a sitting that included procedural business, statements by senators on various topics including Indigenous Veterans Day, National Child Day, and congratulations to a colleague, question period on topics such as inflation, flooding in B.C., and firearms control, and a significant portion of the sitting was dedicated to debates on various bills at the second reading stage. The debate for Bill S-218, an Act to amend the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act, was adjourned after Senator Mary Jane McCallum spoke.
On November 30, 2021, the Senate of Canada held its proceedings, featuring senators' statements, question period exchanges, and debates on multiple bills and motions, including the adjournment of the debate on Bill S-218 concerning the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act.
This artifact is a record of the Senate's proceedings on November 30, 2021. It includes various senators' statements on topics like Indigenous Veterans Day, National Child Day, and Indigenous Disability Awareness Month. It also contains Question Period discussions on inflation, flooding in British Columbia, firearms control, international aid, Canada-China relations, Afghan refugees, Arctic sovereignty, public accounts, and labour shortages. The majority of the artifact details the second reading debates for several bills, including those related to the Parliament of Canada Act, autism spectrum disorder, pandemic observance day, restricting minors' online access to pornography, criminal records, the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act, National Ribbon Skirt Day, the use of wood in public works, and Food Day in Canada. It also includes debates on motions concerning residential schools and adopting anti-racism as a pillar of the Canada Health Act, and a motion to reconvene the International Conference on Viet-Nam. The debate for Bill S-218, An Act to amend the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act, was adjourned.
During the Senate's second reading debate on Bill S-218, senators discussed the necessity of Indigenous gender-based analysis to address systemic inequities faced by Indigenous women and girls.
On October 20, 2022, the Senate debated Bill S-218, An Act to amend the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act. This debate occurred during the second reading stage of the bill's process. The debate focused on the importance of Indigenous gender-based analysis, particularly for Indigenous women and girls, and how the bill aims to address systemic inequities. The Senate also addressed other procedural matters, including notices of motion for committee meetings, questions during Question Period on various government policies and actions, and continued debates on other bills.
On November 15, 2022, the Senate's sitting included Senators' Statements, tabling of documents, Question Period on various issues, and continued debates on several bills, notably Bill C-5 and Bill S-218, with a motion in amendment to Bill C-5 being defeated.
The Senate convened on November 15, 2022, for a sitting that included various procedural matters and debates. The sitting began with Senators' Statements on topics such as National Philanthropy Day, Financial Literacy Month, and Remembrance Day. This was followed by Routine Proceedings where several documents were tabled, including the Auditor General's 2022 Fall Reports and the Fall Economic Statement 2022. The Senate then moved to Question Period, with senators asking questions on diverse topics including Canada-China relations, research funding, immigration, and pediatric health care. The Orders of the Day included continued debates on several bills, including Bill C-5 (An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act), Bill S-218 (An Act to amend the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act), and others related to medical assistance in dying and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. A key procedural event was the debate and subsequent defeat of a motion in amendment to Bill C-5, proposed by Senator Boisvenu, which aimed to restrict conditional sentences for certain offences. Another significant part of the sitting involved the continuation of the second reading debate for Bill S-218, focusing on gender-based analysis in legislation.
The Senate debated bills related to trade agreements, supply management, and corporate insolvency, with discussions on amendments, procedural motions, and the balance between economic interests and regulatory fairness.
On November 28, 2024, the Senate debated several bills and motions. Key topics included: 1. Bill C-280 (Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act): Senators discussed its implications for small businesses and the need for reciprocity with U.S. trade practices. Some argued for amendments to address concerns about fairness, while others supported the bill as is. 2. Bill C-23 (Perishable Fruits and Vegetables): A motion to refer the bill to a committee was debated, with some senators emphasizing the need for thorough review before passage. 3. Bill C-282 (Supply Management): Senators highlighted the importance of maintaining Canada’s supply management system for dairy and poultry, with references to the U.S. PACA Act as a model. 4. Amendments and procedural motions: Several senators proposed amendments to bills, including changes to the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and adjustments to the supply management framework. Procedural motions to refer bills to committees were also discussed. 5. Notable quotes: Senator Cotter referenced the 'long arc of history bending toward civility' in a debate about legislative process, while Senator Varone emphasized the need for 'fairness and balance' in trade agreements. The debates focused on balancing economic interests, regulatory fairness, and international trade obligations, with procedural motions to advance or delay legislation.
Bill S-218, concerning amendments to the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act, has not yet reached the Third Reading stage in the Senate, with its most recent activity being debate at Second Reading.
The Senate has not yet reached the Third Reading stage for Bill S-218. The latest activity recorded was debate at the second reading stage on November 28, 2024. The bill was first read on November 24, 2021, and had its second reading on November 30, 2021. The provided text also lists similar bills, S-213 and S-209, that were introduced in a previous Parliament and were also at the second reading stage in the Senate.
This record indicates that the House of Commons First Reading for Bill S-218 has not yet occurred, with the bill currently at second reading in the Senate.
This artifact describes the House of Commons First Reading stage for Bill S-218, An Act to amend the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act. According to the provided information, this stage has not yet been reached. The bill's current status is at second reading in the Senate, with its first reading having occurred on Wednesday, November 24, 2021, and second reading on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.
Bill S-218 has not yet reached the second reading stage in the House of Commons, with its progression currently noted in the Senate.
The provided artifact indicates that Bill S-218, an Act to amend the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act, has not yet reached the second reading stage in the House of Commons. The latest activity mentioned is related to debate at second reading in the Senate on November 28, 2024. The bill had its first reading on November 24, 2021, and its second reading in the Senate on November 30, 2021.
Bill S-218, concerning amendments to the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act, has reached the second reading stage in the Senate, with further stages in the House of Commons not yet occurring.
This artifact describes the legislative stage for Bill S-218, titled 'An Act to amend the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act.' The bill is currently at the second reading stage in the Senate. The artifact indicates that the 'House of Commons Consideration in committee' stage has not yet been reached. It lists the dates of major speeches during the second reading debates in the Senate and notes that the bill's first reading occurred on Wednesday, November 24, 2021. It also references similar bills, S-213 and S-209, which were introduced in a previous Parliament and also aimed to amend the same Act.
Bill S-218, concerning amendments to the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act, is currently at the 'Report stage' in the House of Commons but has not yet reached this stage, while its overall status is 'At second reading in the Senate'.
This artifact describes the legislative process for Bill S-218, An Act to amend the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act. It indicates that the bill has reached the 'Report stage' in the House of Commons, but this stage has not yet been reached. The bill's current overall status is 'At second reading in the Senate'. The latest activity noted was debate at second reading in the Senate on November 28, 2024. The artifact also lists previous readings and provides information on similar bills introduced in earlier parliamentary sessions.
Bill S-218, concerning amendments to the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act, is currently at the second reading stage in the Senate, with the House of Commons third reading stage not yet reached.
This artifact describes the legislative process for Bill S-218, an Act to amend the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act. The bill has reached the 'House of Commons Third reading' stage, but this stage has not yet occurred. The bill is currently at the 'Second reading' stage in the Senate. The latest activity noted was debate at second reading in the Senate on Thursday, November 28, 2024. The bill was first read in the Senate on Wednesday, November 24, 2021, and had its second reading on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.
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