Senate.

• Author: Lalonde, Chantal
• Position: Legislative Reports

Legislation

Several bills received Royal Assent this quarter, including Bill S-3, An Act to amend the Indian Act in response to the Superior Court of Quebec decision in Descheneaux c. Canada (Procureur general). The Commons had returned the bill in June with three amendments for the Senate to consider. In November, the Senate adopted a motion in response to the Commons message, agreeing with two of the amendments and proposing an alternative to the third. This proposal was later agreed to by the House of Commons.

Other bills that received Royal Assent with Bill S-3 during a traditional ceremony on December 12 were bills C-305, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (mischief); S-211, An Act respecting National Sickle Cell Awareness Day; C-60, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2017; C-23, An Act respecting the preclearance of persons and goods in Canada and the United States; C-277, An Act providing for the development of a framework on palliative care in Canada; C-67, Appropriations Act No. 4, 2017-18 (supply bill); S-236, An Act to recognize Charlottetown as the birthplace of Confederation; and C-36, An Act to amend the Statistics Act.

On December 14, bills C-61, An Act to give effect to the Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement and to make consequential amendments to other Acts; C-63, A second Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 22, 2017 and other measures; and C-17, An Act to amend the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act and to make a consequential amendment to another Act, received Royal Assent by written declaration.

Senators

The Upper Chamber welcomed two new senators on December 13. Senator Mary Coyle, who was appointed to represent Nova Scotia, is known for her leadership in the fields of women's issues, gender equality and the rights of Indigenous peoples. Senator Mary Jane McCallum, from Manitoba, is a First Nations woman and an advocate for social justice who has provided dental care to First Nations communities across Manitoba. Both senators were sitting as non-affiliated members at the time this article was written.

There were also a number of departures from the Senate. Senator Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie retired on November 5. He was appointed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on August 27, 2009. Senator Ogilvie, an accomplished scientist, was Chair of the Standing committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology from mid-2011 until his retirement.

Senator Nick...