SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Bill

Bill C-341

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 13, 2023
An Act to Amend the Inquiries Act
  • This bill is about making changes to the way public inquiries are conducted in Canada. The proposed change is that the people who run these inquiries, called commissioners, would be appointed after talking to leaders of every political party in the House of Commons and getting their approval. This would be done through a resolution passed by the House of Commons. The reasoning behind this is to ensure that the process is fair and transparent.
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  • S1
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  • RA
  • Yea
  • Nay
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SteelmanSpren in Favour

  • The proposed amendment to the Inquiries Act, by requiring consultation with the leader of every recognized party in the House of Commons and approval of the appointment by resolution of that House, ensures greater accountability and transparency in the process of appointing commissioners for public inquiries. It allows for a wider range of voices and perspectives to be taken into consideration and promotes a more democratic and inclusive selection process. By involving the House of Commons in the appointment process, this amendment strengthens the public's trust in the fairness and impartiality of the inquiry, and ultimately leads to more effective and credible outcomes.

SteelmanSpren Against

  • One argument against this bill is that it could create unnecessary delays and political maneuvering in the appointment of commissioners for public inquiries. By requiring consultation with every recognized party leader and approval by resolution of the House of Commons, the process of appointing commissioners could become bogged down by debates and negotiations. This could ultimately hinder the important work of public inquiries, which are meant to investigate matters of public interest and provide recommendations for improvement. Furthermore, there may be concerns that this bill gives too much power to party leaders and political parties in the appointment process, which could lead to partisan bias in the selection of commissioners. It may be argued that the existing appointment process is adequate and should be left as is.
House Second Reading
  • June 13, 2023, 10 a.m.
  • In Progress
  • Read
House First Reading
  • June 13, 2023, 10 a.m.
  • Passed