✘ Bill S-242 (radiocommunications)

Bill

Bill S-242, An Act to amend the Radiocommunication Act

Vote

Nay.

Rationale

S-242 claims to support the Minister’s mandate to take a “use it or lose it” approach to spectrum management but its’ one-size-fits-all approach runs counter to the objective of better connectivity. It fails to consider existing infrastructure, geography, and the variety of uses spectrum supports.

Failed.

Bill Status

Bill defeated

✔︎ Bill C-42, Beneficial Ownership Registry

Bill

Bill C-42, An Act to amend the Canada Business Corporations Act and to make consequential and related amendments to other acts.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

In Budget 2022, the Government of Canada committed to implement a public and searchable registry of beneficial ownership information. The registry will cover corporations governed under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) and will be scalable to allow access to the beneficial ownership data held by provinces and territories that agree to participate. The objective of the registry is to provide relevant authorities with timely access to accurate and up-to-date information about the true controlling individuals of corporations in order to combat illegal activities, including money laundering, corruption, and tax evasion. Greater transparency will also improve corporate accountability more generally, and thus help protect the public, improve trust in corporate institutions and ensure a well-functioning marketplace.

Passed.

Bill Status

Received Royal Assent

✔︎ Bill C-293, Pandemic Prevention and Preparedness Act

Bill

Bill C-293, An Act respecting pandemic prevention and preparedness

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

The Act supports the designation of a pandemic prevention and preparedness coordinator and the development of a pandemic prevention and preparedness plan to support the Government in improving its emergency response and preparedness efforts.

Passed.

Bill Status

At consideration in committee in the House of Commons

✔︎ Bill C-226, National Strategy Respecting Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice Act

Bill

Bill C-226, An Act respecting the development of a national strategy to assess, prevent and address environmental racism and to advance environmental justice

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

Our government supported a nearly identical version of the Bill in the last Parliament. Additionally, the bill provides adequate flexibility with respect to the development of a national strategy. Support for Bill S-226 demonstrates action on the commitment in the Minister of Environment and Climate Change’s mandate letter to introduce legislation requiring the development of an environmental justice strategy.

Passed.

Bill Status

At consideration in committee in the Senate

✔︎ Bill S-222 (use of wood)

Bill

Bill S-222, An Act to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act (use of wood)

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

The government stands in support of environmental goals and sustainable infrastructure. Our government supported Bill C-354 in 2019 , which was a similar Bill. Given that C-354 was passed by the House of Commons, it is anticipated that S-222 would pass Parliamentary review. This Bill supports the government mandate of greening and reducing GHGs, as well as building a sustainable environmental future.

Passed.

Bill Status

Received Royal Assent

✔︎ Bill S-12 (SOIRA and publication bans)

Bill

Bill S-12, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Sex Offender Information Registration Act and the International Transfer of Offenders Act

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

Bill S-12 amends the Criminal Code and the Sex Offender Information Registration Act (SOIRA) to enact reforms in three categories: 1) response to a Supreme Court decision regarding the National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR), 2) strengthening of the NSOR, and 3) empowering victims of crime. S-12 was created after extensive consultation with victims and survivors of sexual assault, women’s groups, law enforcement agencies, and others. The Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime is extremely supportive of this Bill.

Passed.

Bill Status

Received Royal Assent

✔︎ Bill C-280, Financial Protection for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Farmers Act

Bill

Bill C-280, An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (deemed trust – perishable fruits and vegetables)

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

C-280 seeks to create a “deemed trust” that would enable fresh produce sellers to demand return of the full proceeds from the sale of their products ahead of the claims of all other creditors in the case of a BIA and restructurings under the CCAA. The government would look to introduce an amendment to limit the deemed trust to “growers” rather than “sellers” to target the deemed trust at farmers and greenhouse growers of fresh produce, and to exclude large Canadian and US agribusiness and wholesalers as they would be captured in the definition of “sellers”. “Growers” will distinguish the new deemed trust from the existing limited super-priority for Canadian farmers, fishers, and aquacultures. The definition of “farm” in the current BIA super-priority means “land in Canada”, while “grower” would include US farmers and may provide additional parity with PACA that could support efforts to restore preferential Canadian access in the US.

Passed.

Bill Status

At second reading in the Senate

✔︎ Bill C-252, Child Health Protection Act

Bill

Bill C-252, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (prohibition of food and beverage marketing directed at children)

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

The Government supports sending Bill C-252 to Committee. The Bill is well-aligned with the Government’s commitment to promote healthy eating, and help prevent obesity and other diet-related chronic diseases.

Passed.

Bill Status

At second reading in the Senate

✘ Bill C-278, Prevention of Government-imposed Vaccination Mandates Act

Bill

Bill C-278, An Act to prevent the imposition by the federal government of vaccination mandates for employment and travel

Vote

Nay.

Rationale

This Bill was introduced in the context of the measures adopted by the federal government to control the spread of COVID-19 including the application of the Quarantine Act to international travelers as well as vaccine mandates for the federal public sector and in the federally regulated transportation context. The proposed amendments would restrict the government’s ability to take necessary actions to protect public health and safety in response to the current pandemic, which continues to evolve, as well as future public health emergencies. These amendments are broad in their scope, without limits, which would lead to policy implications on all levels of government.

Failed.

Bill Status

Bill defeated

✔︎ Bill C-284, National Strategy for Eye Care Act

Bill

Bill C-284, An Act to establish a national strategy for eye care

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

More than eight million Canadians have one of four common eye diseases and are at serious risk of losing their vision. A national strategy for eye care would lay out a common direction and shared leadership for governments and stakeholders to work together to address vision loss. It would establish a mechanism for efforts towards coordinated action on eye care to reduce duplication across jurisdictions and maximize the collective impact of efforts to prevent and manage eye diseases across the country. In addition, it could provide Indigenous peoples and organizations with an opportunity to engage in an FPT strategy, including consideration for a distinctions-based approach. The Government will also designate and promote February as “Age-Related Macular Degeneration Month”. Awareness about eye health and the risks of eye disease is a key tool we need to leverage to make sure Canadians have the information they need to preserve their vision for the long term. Supporting Bill C-284 demonstrates the Government’s commitment to reducing the significant burden of vision loss.

Passed.

Bill Status

At second reading in the Senate