Legislative summaries

  1. Legislative Summary of Bill C-3: An Act to amend the Judges Act and the Criminal Code

    (Revised)
    Legislative Summary
    43-2
    c3-e.pdf (1.9 MB)
    Bill C 3, as amended, has three central purposes: It adds a new eligibility requirement for lawyers to qualify to become a judge of a superior court in any province – namely, that they must undertake to participate in continuing education on matters related to sexual assault law and social context. It suggests that the CJC submit an annual report to Parliament through the Minister of Justice on the delivery of and participation in sexual assault law seminars established by the CJC. It requires judges to provide reasons for decisions in sexual assault cases. These reasons must be recorded or provided in writing (if not recorded).

    This legislative summary is available as an unedited preliminary version in PDF format only. If the bill receives Royal Assent, this version will be replaced by a final version available in both HTML and PDF formats.

    Cultural sensitivity
    Federally appointed judges
    Sexual assault
    Training
    Violence against women

  2. Legislative Summary of Bill C-17: An Act Respecting Additional COVID-19 Measures

    Legislative Summary
    43-1
    c17-e.pdf (1.85 MB)
    Bill C-17 has four parts, comprising 16 clauses, and a schedule: Part 1 amends the Income Tax Act (ITA) to enact changes to the eligibility criteria for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), particularly with respect to amalgamated corporations, the baseline remuneration period, trusts and the use of payroll service providers. Part 2 enacts the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19) (TLOPA), which suspends certain time limits in relation to court proceedings. It also allows ministers to temporarily suspend or extend time limits and extend other periods in relation to specified Acts and regulations to respond to the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. Part 3 amends the ITA and the Children's Special Allowances Act (CSA Act) to allow for the disclosure of information for the purpose of a one-time payment to persons with disabilities. Part 4 amends the Canada Emergency Response Benefit Act (CERBA) to, among other changes, modify the number of weeks in relation to which a worker may apply for an income support payment under the Act; provide that a worker is not eligible for an income support payment if they do not return to work when it is reasonable to do so; allow for a review of decisions made under the Act; and introduce enforcement-related provisions.

    This legislative summary is available as an unedited preliminary version in PDF format only. If the bill receives Royal Assent, this version will be replaced by a final version available in both HTML and PDF formats.

    COVID-19 pandemic, 2020-
    Grants
    Income security
    Industry assistance
    Legal proceedings
    Public expenditures
    Statutes

  3. Legislative Summary of Bill C-16: An Act to amend the Canadian Dairy Commission Act

    Legislative Summary
    43-1
    c16-e.pdf (1.81 MB)
    The purpose of Bill C 16 is to implement measures to respond to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) pandemic. Since the closure of many restaurants, hotels and institutions across the country to slow the spread of the virus, the demand for many dairy products has undergone significant fluctuations. Some dairy producers have had to dump milk to dispose of surplus that cannot be sold. In the context of the COVID 19 pandemic, the dairy industry has asked the CDC to temporarily purchase cheese, as it already does with butter. For example, the CDC would enter into a contractual agreement to purchase cheese from a processor, who would commit to buying it back within two years. On 5 May 2020, the Prime Minister announced the government’s intention to increase the CDC’s borrowing limit to support costs associated with the temporary storage of cheese and butter, and thereby to prevent food waste.

    This legislative summary is available as an unedited preliminary version in PDF format only. If the bill receives Royal Assent, this version will be replaced by a final version available in both HTML and PDF formats.

    COVID-19 pandemic, 2020-
    Crown corporations
    Dairy industry
    Industry assistance
    Statutes

  4. Legislative Summary of Bill C-15: An Act respecting Canada emergency student benefits (coronavirus disease 2019)

    Legislative Summary
    43-1
    c15-e.pdf (1.86 MB)
    Bill C 15 enacts the Canada Emergency Student Benefit Act (the Act), authorizing the payment of emergency benefits to students who have lost work and income opportunities due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19). It was shared with opposition parties prior to its introduction in the House of Commons; as a result, it was amended prior to being tabled, including by adding an end date for the benefit; a requirement that the responsible minister make information about employment opportunities available to eligible students; and a requirement for parliamentary review.

    This legislative summary is available as an unedited preliminary version in PDF format only. If the bill receives Royal Assent, this version will be replaced by a final version available in both HTML and PDF formats.

    COVID-19 pandemic, 2020-
    Income security
    Statutes
    Students

  5. Legislative Summary of Bill C-8: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy)

    Legislative Summary
    43-1
    c8-e.pdf (1.9 MB)
    Bill C-8 states that conversion therapy causes harm to persons who are subjected to it, particularly children. It harms society more broadly by promoting myths and stereotypes about sexual orientation and gender identity, such as the notion that these personal characteristics can and should be changed. Consequently, the bill aims to discourage and denounce conversion therapy by criminalizing certain activities related to it, with the further intention of protecting “the human dignity and equality of all Canadians.” It amends the Criminal Code (the Code) in order, among other things, to prohibit anyone from advertising services related to conversion therapy; forcing persons or causing a child to undergo conversion therapy; removing a minor from Canada to undergo conversion therapy abroad; and receiving a material benefit from the provision of conversion therapy.

    This legislative summary is available as an unedited preliminary version in PDF format only. If the bill receives Royal Assent, this version will be replaced by a final version available in both HTML and PDF formats.

    Criminal law
    Criminalization
    Gender identity and expression
    Minors
    Psychotherapy
    Sexual orientation

  6. Legislative Summary of Bill C-14: A second Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19

    Legislative Summary
    43-1
    c14-e.pdf (1.85 MB)
    The purpose of Bill C-14 is to implement measures to respond to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Bill C-14 has two parts: Part 1 amends the Income Tax Act to introduce the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic (clauses 2 to 7). Part 2 amends Part IV.1 of the Financial Administration Act to provide that certain provisions of that Act, as enacted by the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, cease to have effect on the day after 30 September 2020 (clauses 8 to 12).

    This legislative summary is available as an unedited preliminary version in PDF format only. If the bill receives Royal Assent, this version will be replaced by a final version available in both HTML and PDF formats.

    Income security
    Industry assistance
    Public expenditures
    Statutes

  7. Legislative Summary of Bill C-7: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)

    Legislative Summary
    43-1
    c7-e.pdf (1.98 MB)
    The bill includes the federal response to the September 2019 Superior Court of Quebec decision in Truchon c. Procureur général du Canada, which related to the federal Criminal Code (the Code) provisions on medical assistance in dying (MAID) and Quebec’s Act respecting end-of-life care. That decision declared that the Code requirement that a person could be eligible for MAID only if natural death was “reasonably foreseeable” was contrary to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The amendments to the Code that are proposed in Bill C-7 also address some issues that have been raised since the Code provisions on MAID were first introduced in 2016. The bill amends the Code provisions on MAID by establishing a separate set of procedural safeguards for individuals whose natural death is not reasonably foreseeable and making some amendments to the safeguards that apply in the case of individuals whose natural death is reasonably foreseeable. The bill also amends the eligibility criteria by establishing that mental illness is not an illness, disease or disability for the purpose of determining eligibility for MAID.

    This legislative summary is available as an unedited preliminary version in PDF format only. If the bill receives Royal Assent, this version will be replaced by a final version available in both HTML and PDF formats.

    Assisted suicide
    Criminal law
    Euthanasia
    Statutes

  8. Legislative Summary of Bill C-13: An Act Respecting Certain Measures in Response to COVID-19

    Legislative Summary
    43-1
    c13-e.pdf (1.96 MB)
    Part 1 implements certain income tax measures related to the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax credit, the Canada Child Benefit and withdrawals from registered retirement income funds. It also provides eligible small employers with a temporary wage subsidy for a period of three months. Part 2 enacts the Canada Emergency Response Benefit Act to authorize the making of income support payments to workers who suffer a loss of income for reasons related to COVID-19. Part 3 enacts the Public Health Events of National Concern Payments Act. Part 4 amends the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act. Part 5 amends the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Act. Part 6 amends the Export Development Act. Part 7 amends the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act. Part 8 amends the Financial Administration Act and makes related or consequential amendments to the Borrowing Authority Act and the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act. Part 9 amends the Food and Drugs Act to, among other things, temporarily authorize the Governor in Council to make regulations to prevent shortages of therapeutic products in Canada or to alleviate those shortages or their effects. Part 10 amends the Canada Labour Code to, among other things, create a regime that provides for a leave related to COVID-19 of up to 16 weeks. Part 11 amends the National Housing Act. Part 12 adds a time-limited provision to the Patent Act related to authorizations to make, construct, use and sell a patented invention to the extent necessary to respond to a public health emergency that is a matter of national concern. Part 13 amends the Canada Student Loans Act. Part 14 amends the Farm Credit Canada Act. Part 15 amends the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act. Part 16 amends the Business Development Bank of Canada Act. Part 17 amends the Apprentice Loans Act. Part 18 amends the Employment Insurance Act.

    This legislative summary is available as an unedited preliminary version in PDF format only. If the bill receives Royal Assent, this version will be replaced by a final version available in both HTML and PDF formats.

    COVID-19 pandemic, 2020-
    Fiscal assistance
    Grants
    Income security
    Industry assistance
    Public expenditures
    Statutes
    Tax expenditures

  9. Legislative Summary of Bill C-12: An Act to amend the Financial Administration Act (special warrant)

    Legislative Summary
    43-1
    c12-e.pdf (1.82 MB)
    Bill C-12 enables the federal government to request that the Governor General sign special warrants to approve spending while Parliament is not sitting. It also contains several reporting provisions for the warrants issued. The bill's provisions expire on 24 June 2020. Clause 1(1) of the bill amends section 30 of the Financial Administration Act to enable the Governor General to sign special warrants that authorize payments from the Consolidated Revenue Fund when Parliament is in session but is not sitting. The Governor in Council may direct the preparation of the special warrants on report of the President of the Treasury Board that there are no other appropriations available for the payments and reports of the appropriate ministers that the payments are urgently required for the public good. Clause 1(3) of the bill establishes reporting provisions for the special warrants issued under clause 1. The warrants are to be sent to a representative of every recognized party in the House of Commons as soon as they are issued, sent to the Clerk of the House of Commons within seven days, and published in the Canada Gazette within seven days. Clause 2 provides that clauses 1(2) and 1(4) of the bill, which reinstate the previous provisions of the Financial Administration Act (as outlined in section 1.1 of this Legislative Summary), come into force as of 24 June 2020, thereby limiting the bill's duration.

    This legislative summary is available as an unedited preliminary version in PDF format only. If the bill receives Royal Assent, this version will be replaced by a final version available in both HTML and PDF formats.

    Administrative law
    Executive power
    Public expenditures
    Public finance
    Statutes

  10. Legislative Summary of Bill C-6: An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's call to action number 94)

    Legislative Summary
    43-1
    c6-e.pdf (1.82 MB)
    This bill aims to modify the Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship, a change requiring an amendment to the Citizenship Act. The current Oath of Citizenship has not been modified in over 40 years.

    This legislative summary is available as an unedited preliminary version in PDF format only. If the bill receives Royal Assent, this version will be replaced by a final version available in both HTML and PDF formats.

    Aboriginal and treaty rights
    Citizenship
    Citizenship ceremonies
    Government bills
    Oaths of allegiance
    Sovereign
    Statutes