Bill S-7 explained in plain English
An Act to amend the Customs Act and the Preclearance Act, 2016
Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
Short answer
Bill S-7 updates Canadian customs and preclearance laws to modernize digital device examination powers and procedures.
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.
AI-generated from official bill text; automatically checked and spot-reviewed.
Bill S-7 updates Canadian customs and preclearance laws to modernize digital device examination powers and procedures.
Bill S-7 amends the Customs Act and Preclearance Act, 2016 to update powers for border and preclearance officers regarding digital devices. It allows officers to examine digital devices for customs purposes, make electronic copies of records, and submit information via telecommunications. It also expands preclearance officers' authority to examine, search, and detain digital devices under specific conditions.
- Allows customs officers to examine digital devices for customs purposes, including emails, text messages, and photos
- Permits officers to make electronic copies of records if physical seizure would damage evidence
- Enables submission of information via telephone or telecommunications for certain procedures
- Expands preclearance officers' authority to examine, search, and detain digital devices of travelers bound for the U.S.
- Includes provisions for disabled network connectivity and non-application for commercial devices
- Revises French language obligations for traveler identification in the Preclearance Act
- Customs and preclearance officers
- Travelers with personal digital devices
- Persons asserting legal privileges (e.g., solicitor-client privilege)
- The commencement provision for directions is described with medium confidence due to incomplete text
- Specific penalties or fees for non-compliance are not detailed in the provided text
Updated to allow examination of digital devices, electronic copying of records, and telecommunications-based information submission
Expanded preclearance officers' powers to examine digital devices, with French language revisions for traveler identification obligations
Allows submission of information via telecommunications for certain procedures under section 487.1
Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. Coverage is limited to the official text extracted for this bill version.
Official textParliamentary Process
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 Introduction and 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 Debate at second reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Sponsor’s speech yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Debate at second reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Debate at second reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Response speech yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Debate at 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 Committee report presented with amendments 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 Committee report adopted 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.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Debate at 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 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
This plain-English summary is based on official legislative sources and public records. It is intended for civic education and is not legal advice.
How this data is sourced