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2. The Senate and Legislation
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"A regulating body, calmly
considering the legislation
initiated by the popular branch and
preventing any hasty or
ill-considered legislation which
may come from that body."
Sir John A. Macdonald,
during the debates that led to
Confederation in 1867
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Speaker's Rulings
How a Bill Becomes Law
A House of Commons bill is
sent to the Senate by the
House of Commons after
third reading and passage.
(Likewise, a bill that is
introduced in the Senate is
sent to the House of
Commons after the Senate
approves third reading.)
First reading:
The bill is introduced and
circulated to senators.
Second
reading:
The principle of the bill
is debated.
Committee
stage:
Witnesses appear; senators
study the bill in detail; a
report is made to the
Senate.
Third reading:
Final consideration. The
bill is returned to the
House of Commons if it has
been amended by the Senate.
Royal Assent:
The Governor General makes
the bill law on the advice
and with the consent of
both Houses of Parliament.
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The Speaker of the Senate is responsible
for preserving order and decorum in the
Chamber. The Speaker can interrupt any
debate to restore order or to enforce the
rules of parliamentary procedure.
In the Chamber, a major responsibility of
the Speaker of the Senate is to make
rulings on points of order and questions of
privilege. In 2004-2005, Speaker Dan Hays
made 7 substantive rulings; those rulings
are summarized in Appendix A.
The Senate Calendar
The Senate generally sits on Tuesdays,
Wednesdays and Thursdays; Mondays and Fridays
are office, committee or travel days. The
Senate Order Paper and Notice Paper, prepared
with input from individual senators and
Senate committees, sets out the agenda for
each day's sitting. The Senate sat 62
days over 20 weeks during the
2004-2005 fiscal year, with parliament
dissolved May 23, 2004 and an election held
June 28, 2004.
Consideration of Government Legislation
The tables below describe legislation
considered in the Senate from April 1,
2004 to March 31, 2005, also known as fiscal
year 2004-2005. The 2004-2005 fiscal year
straddled the end of the 37th Parliament, 3rd
Session and the beginning of the 38th
Parliament, 1st Session.
Government Bills (Senate)
First Session of the 38th
Parliament
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S-10
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A second Act to harmonize federal
law with the civil law of the
Province of Quebec and to amend
certain Acts in order to ensure that
each language version takes into
account the common law and the civil
law
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S-17
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An Act to implement an agreement,
conventions and protocols concluded
between Canada and Gabon, Ireland,
Armenia, Oman and Azerbaijan for the
avoidance of double taxation and the
prevention of fiscal evasion
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S-18
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An Act to amend the Statistics
Act
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Senate Public Bills
Third Session of the 37th
Parliament
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S-12
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An Act to amend the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police Act
(modernization of employment and
labour relations)
Senator Pierre Claude Nolin
(C-De Salaberry, Quebec)
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S-17
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An Act to amend the Citizenship
Act
Senator Noël A. Kinsella
(C-Fredericton-York-Sunbury, New
Brunswick)
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S-18
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An Act to amend the Canada
Transportation Act (running rights
for carriage of grain)
Senator Tommy Banks
(Lib-Edmonton, Alberta)
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First Session of the 38th
Parliament
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S-2
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An Act to amend the Citizenship
Act
Senator Noël A. Kinsella
(C-Fredericton-York-Sunbury, New
Brunswick)
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S-3
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An Act to amend the Official
Languages Act (promotion of English
and French)
Senator Jean-Robert Gauthier
(Lib-Ontario)
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S-4
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An Act to amend the Marriage
(Prohibited Degrees) Act and the
Interpretation Act in order to
affirm the meaning of
marriage
Senator Anne C. Cools
(C-Toronto-Center-York, Ontario)
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S-5
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An Act to repeal legislation
that has not come into force within
ten years of receiving Royal
Assent
Senator Tommy Banks
(Lib-Edmonton, Alberta)
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S-6
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An Act to amend the Canada
Transportation Act (running rights
for carriage of grain)
Senator Tommy Banks
(Lib-Edmonton, Alberta)
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S-7
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An Act to amend the Supreme
Court Act (references by Governor
in Council)
Senator Anne C. Cools
(C-Toronto-Center-York, Ontario)
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S-8
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An Act to amend the Judges
Act
Senator Anne C. Cools
(C-Toronto-Center-York, Ontario)
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S-9
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An Act to amend the Copyright
Act
Senator Joseph A. Day
(Lib-Saint John-Kennebecasis, New
Brunswick)
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S-11
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An Act to amend the Criminal
Code (lottery schemes)
Senator Jean Lapointe
(Lib-Saurel, Quebec)
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S-12
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An Act concerning personal
watercraft in navigable
waters
Senator Mira Spivak
(Ind-Manitoba)
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S-13
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An Act to amend the Constitution
Act, 1867 and the Parliament of
Canada Act
Senator Donald H. Oliver
(C-Nova Scotia)
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S-14
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An Act to protect heritage
lighthouses
Senator Noël A. Kinsella
(C-Fredericton-York-Sunbury, New
Brunswick)
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S-15
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An Act to prevent unsolicited
messages on the Internet
Senator Donald H. Oliver
(C-Nova Scotia)
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S-16
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An Act providing for the Crown's
recognition of self-governing First
Nations of Canada
Senator Gerry
St. Germain
(C-Langley-Pemberton-Whistler,
British Columbia)
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S-19
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An Act to amend the Criminal
Code (criminal interest rate)
Senator Madeleine Plamondon
(Ind-The Laurentides, Quebec)
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S-20
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An Act to provide for increased
transparency and objectivity in the
selection of suitable individuals
to be named to certain high public
positions
Senator Terry Stratton (C-Red
River, Manitoba)
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S-21
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An Act to amend the Criminal
Code (protection of children)
Senator Céline
Hervieux-Payette (Lib-Bedford,
Quebec)
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S-22
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An Act to amend the Canada
Elections Act (mandatory
voting)
Senator Mac Harb (Lib-Ontario)
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S-23
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An Act to amend the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police Act
(modernization of employment and
labour relations)
Senator Pierre Claude Nolin
(C-De Salaberry, Quebec)
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S-24
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An Act to amend the Criminal
Code (cruelty to animals)
Senator John G. Bryden
(Lib-New Brunswick)
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S-26
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An Act to provide for a national
cancer strategy
Senator J. Michael Forrestall
(C-Dartmouth/Eastern Shore, Nova
Scotia)
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S-28
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An Act to amend the Bankruptcy
and Insolvency Act (student
loan)
Senator Wilfred P. Moore
(Lib-Stanhope St./Bluenose, Nova
Scotia)
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Senate Private Bills
Third Session of the 37th
Parliament
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S-15
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An Act to amend the Act of
incorporation of Queen's
Theological College
Senator Lowell Murray (C-Pakenham,
Ontario)
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First Session of the 38th
Parliament
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S-25
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An Act to amend the Act of
incorporation of The General Synod
of the Anglican Church of
Canada
Senator William Rompkey, P.C.
(Lib-North West River, Labrador,
Newfoundland and Labrador)
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S-27
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An Act respecting Scouts
Canada
Senator Consiglio Di Nino
(C-Ontario)
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Private Members' Public Bills from the
House of Commons
Third Session of the 37th
Parliament
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C-249
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An Act to amend the Competition
Act
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C-250
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An Act to amend the Criminal Code
(hate propaganda)
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First Session of the 38th
Parliament
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C-302
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An Act to change the name of the
electoral district of
Kitchener-Wilmot-Wellesley-Woolwich
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C-304
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An Act to change the name of the
electoral district of Battle
River
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Government Public Bills from the House of
Commons
Third Session of the 37th
Parliament
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C-3
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An Act to amend the Canada
Elections Act and the Income Tax
Act
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C-7
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An Act to amend certain Acts of
Canada, and to enact measures for
implementing the Biological and Toxin
Weapons Convention, in order to
enhance public safety
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C-8
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An Act to establish the Library
and Archives of Canada, to amend the
Copyright Act and to amend certain
Acts in consequence
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C-9
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An Act to amend the Patent Act and
the Food and Drugs Act (The Jean
Chrétien Pledge to Africa)
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C-11
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An Act to give effect to the
Westbank First Nation Self-Government
Agreement
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C-12
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An Act to amend the Criminal Code
(protection of children and other
vulnerable persons) and the Canada
Evidence Act
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C-14
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An Act to amend the Criminal Code
and other Acts
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C-15
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An Act to implement treaties and
administrative arrangements on the
international transfer of persons
found guilty of criminal
offences
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C-16
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An Act respecting the registration
of information relating to sex
offenders, to amend the Criminal Code
and to make consequential amendments
to other Acts
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C-17
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An Act to amend certain Acts
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C-20
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An Act to change the names of
certain electoral districts
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C-21
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An Act to amend the Customs
Tariff
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C-22
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An Act to amend the Criminal Code
(cruelty to animals)
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C-24
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An Act to amend the Parliament of
Canada Act
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C-28
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An Act to amend the Canada
National Parks Act
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C-30
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An Act to implement certain
provisions of the budget tabled in
Parliament on March 23, 2004
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First Session of the 38th
Parliament
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C-3
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An Act to amend the Canada
Shipping Act, the Canada Shipping
Act, 2001, the Canada National Marine
Conservation Areas Act and the Oceans
Act
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C-4
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An Act to implement the Convention
on International Interests in Mobile
Equipment and the Protocol to the
Convention on International Interests
in Mobile Equipment on Matters
Specific to Aircraft Equipment
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C-5
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An Act to provide financial
assistance for post-secondary
education savings
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C-6
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An Act to establish the Department
of Public Safety and Emergency
Preparedness and to amend or repeal
certain Acts
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C-7
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An Act to amend the Department of
Canadian Heritage Act and the Parks
Canada Agency Act and to make related
amendments to other Acts
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C-8
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An Act to amend the Financial
Administration Act, the Canada School
of Public Service Act and the
Official Languages Act
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C-10
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An Act to amend the Criminal Code
(mental disorder) and to make
consequential amendments to other
Acts
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C-12
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An Act to prevent the introduction
and spread of communicable
diseases
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C-14
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An Act to give effect to a land
claims and self-government agreement
among the Tlicho, the Government of
the Northwest Territories and the
Government of Canada, to make related
amendments to the Mackenzie Valley
Resource Management Act and to make
consequential amendments to other
Acts
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C-15
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An Act to amend the Migratory
Birds Convention Act, 1994 and the
Canadian Environmental Protection
Act, 1999
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C-18
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An Act to amend the Telefilm
Canada Act and another Act
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C-20
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An Act to provide for real
property taxation powers of first
nations, to create a First Nations
Tax Commission, First Nations
Financial Management Board, First
Nations Finance Authority and First
Nations Statistical Institute and to
make consequential amendments to
other Acts
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C-24
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An Act to amend the
Federal-Provincial Fiscal
Arrangements Act and to make
consequential amendments to other
Acts (fiscal equalization payments to
the provinces and funding to the
territories)
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C-29
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An Act to amend the Patent
Act
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C-33
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A second Act to implement certain
provisions of the budget tabled in
Parliament on March 23, 2004
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C-34
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An Act for granting to Her Majesty
certain sums of money for the public
service of Canada for the financial
year ending March 31, 2005
(Appropriation Act No. 2,
2004-2005)
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C-35
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An Act for granting to Her Majesty
certain sums of money for the public
service of Canada for the financial
year ending March 31, 2005
(Appropriation Act No. 3,
2004-2005)
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C-36
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An Act to change the boundaries of
the Acadie-Bathurst and Miramichi
electoral districts
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C-39
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An Act to amend the
Federal-Provincial Fiscal
Arrangements Act and to enact An Act
respecting the provision of funding
for diagnostic and medical
equipment
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C-41
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An Act for granting to Her Majesty
certain sums of money for the public
service of Canada for the financial
year ending March 31, 2005
(Appropriation Act No. 4,
2004-2005)
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C-42
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An Act for granting to Her Majesty
certain sums of money for the public
service of Canada for the financial
year ending March 31, 2006
(Appropriation Act No. 1,
2005-2006)
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Royal Assent
The following bills received royal assent
in 2004-2005:
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Date
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Sovereign's Representative
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Bills That Received Royal Assent
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Third Session, 37th
Parliament
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April 1
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The Honourable Marie Deschamps,
Puisne Judge
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C-16; S-15
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April 22
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The Governor General
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C-8; C-14
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April 29
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The Governor General
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C-21; C-250
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May 6
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The Governor General
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C-7; C-11; C-17
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May 14
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The Governor General
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C-24; C-20; C-28; C-15; C-30;
C-9; C-3
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First Session, 38th
Parliament
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December 15, 2004
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The Honourable Louise Charron,
Puisne Judge
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S-10; C-5; C-34; C-35
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February 15, 2005
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The Honourable Marie Deschamps,
Puisne Judge
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C-14
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February 24, 2005
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The Honourable Louis LeBel,
Puisne Judge
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C-7; C-4; C-302; C-304; C-36
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March 10, 2005
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The Honourable Ian Binnie, Puisne
Judge
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C-24
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March 23, 2005
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The Governor General
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S-17; C-20; C-6; C-39; C-41;
C-42; C-18
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Consideration of Government Legislation
The tables below describe legislation
considered in the Senate from April 1, 2004
to March 31, 2005, also known as fiscal year
2004-2005.
The 2004-2005 fiscal year straddled the end
of the 37th Parliament, 3rd Session and the
beginning of the 38th Parliament, 1st
Session.
On June 28, 2004, a general election was
held.
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Summary
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1st Session
38th Parliament
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3rd Session
37th Parliament
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Fiscal year
2004-2005
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Bills passed by both Houses
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16
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12
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28
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Government Bills introduced in the
Senate
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3
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0
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3
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Bills received from the House of
Commons
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21
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7
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28
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Bills received from Committee
without amendment
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8
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12
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20
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Bills received from Committee
without amendment
but with observations or
recommendations
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4
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0
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4
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Consideration of Private Members'
Legislation
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Public and Private Bills
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1st Session
38th Parliament
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3rd Session
37th Parliament
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Fiscal year
2004-2005
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Bills passed by both Houses
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2
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2
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4
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Private Bills introduced in the
Senate
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2
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0
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2
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Public Bills introduced in the
Senate
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22
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1
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23
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Bills received from the House of
Commons
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2
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0
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2
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Bills received from Committee
without amendment
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3
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1
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4
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Bills received from Committee
without amendment
but with observations or
recommendations
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2
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0
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2
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