Senate.

• Position: Legislative Reports - Canadian Parliament

While Senate committees continued to work on special studies, business in the Chamber was quiet during the early months of 2005. The regular flow of legislation from the House of Commons to the Senate was slowed by the dynamics of the minority government and by political issues that occupied the time and attention of the government. As a result, only legislation of a non-controversial and routine nature reached the Senate.

Royal Assent

It has become easier to have Royal Assent more often since the passage of a bill in June 2002 which provided for written declaration as an alternative to the formal ceremony in the Senate Chamber with Members of the Commons at the Bar. Royal Assent by written declaration takes less time to arrange, does not interrupt parliamentary business and eases the ceremonial burden placed on the Governor General and the justices of the Supreme Court who act as her deputies. During the spring of 2005 a total of 16 bills received Royal Assent by written declaration on five different occasions:

* C-14, the Tlicho Land Claims and Self-Government Act on February 15;

* C-7, An Act to amend the Department of Canadian Heritage Act and the Parks Canada Agency Act and to make related amendments to other Acts on February 24;

* C-4, International Interests in Mobile Equipment (aircraft equipment) Act on February 24;

* C-302, An Act to change the name of the electoral district of Kitchener-Wilmot-Wellesley-Woolwich on February 24;

* C-304, All Act to change the name of the electoral district off Battle River on February 24;

* C-36, An Act to change the boundaries of the Acadie-Bathurst and Miramichi electoral districts on February 24;

* C-24, 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) on March 10;

* S-17, Tax Conventions Implementation Act, 2004 on March 23;

* C-20, First Nations Fiscal and Statistical Management Act on March 23;

* C-6, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Act on March 23;

* C-39, 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 on March 23;

* C-41, Appropriation Act No. 4, 2004-2005 on March 23;

* C-42, Appropriation Act No. 1, 2005-2006 on March 23;

* C-18, An Act to amend the Telefilm Canada Act and another Act on March 23;

* C-8, An Act to...