Plain-English civics

What is second reading?

Second reading is the stage where legislators debate the principle or main idea of a bill. A vote at this stage usually decides whether the bill should continue to detailed study.

What second reading means

Second reading is not usually a line-by-line review. It is about whether the legislature agrees with the general direction of the bill. If the bill passes, it often goes to committee.

Official sources

PoliticalData.ca explainers are civic education, not legal advice. Official legislative records control if there is a conflict.