Senate.

• Author: Hollins, Max
• Position: Legislative Reports

Legislation

Bill S-207, An Act to change the name of the electoral district of Chdteauguay--Lacolle, was adopted at third reading and sent to the House of Commons on February 8. The bill is similar to other versions that had been introduced in previous sessions and were not sent to the House of Commons.

Four government bills received Royal Assent by written declaration. Bill C-12, An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (Guaranteed Income Supplement), was read a third time and passed, without amendment, and received Royal Assent on March 3. Bill C-10, An Act respecting certain measures related to COVID-19, was read a third time and passed, without amendment, and received Royal Assent on March 4.

Bill C-15, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, and Bill C-16, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, were read a third time and passed, without amendment, and received Royal Assent on March 31.

Chamber, Procedure and Speaker's Rulings

On February 21, as part of proceedings required after the invocation of the Emergencies Act, the Senate adopted a motion establishing the schedule and outline of the next four sitting days, from February 22 to 25, during which the Senate would sit from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The motion further stipulated that the only item of business before the Senate would be a motion to confirm the declaration of a public order emergency, which was proclaimed on February 14. The motion was to be taken up at the start of each sitting and debated without interruption, except for one-hour pauses at noon and at 6 p.m.

During debate on the motion on the afternoon of February 23, Senator Marc Gold, the Government Representative in the Senate, announced that the government had revoked the declaration of a public order emergency pursuant to the Emergencies Act. With leave of the Senate, the motion was then withdrawn, and the Senate resumed sittings the next day following the rules, orders, and practices that were otherwise in effect.

On March 1, the Senate adopted a motion to refer a government motion to the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs for examination and report. The motion in question, if adopted, would authorize an amendment to the Constitution of Canada to be made by proclamation issued by Her Excellency the...