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Bill S-218

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
November 15, 2022
  • This bill, known as S-218, proposes an amendment to the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act. The amendment would require the Minister for Women and Gender Equality to examine potential effects of certain bills and amendments on women, particularly Indigenous women, and report those effects to Parliament. The aim of this amendment is to ensure that legislation and proposed changes take into consideration the impact on women and promote gender equality. The bill also includes provisions for the timely tabling and publication of these reports. It is important to note that these requirements would only apply to bills introduced in Parliament six months after the bill receives royal assent.
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First Session, Forty-fourth Parliament,

70 Elizabeth II, 2021

SENATE OF CANADA

BILL S-218
An Act to amend the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act

FIRST READING, November 24, 2021

THE HONOURABLE SENATOR McCallum

4411922


SUMMARY

This enactment amends the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act to require the Minister for Women and Gender Equality to examine the potential effects of certain bills and amendments on women and to report to Parliament accordingly.

Available on the Senate of Canada website at the following address:
www.sencanada.ca/en


1st Session, 44th Parliament,

70 Elizabeth II, 2021

SENATE OF CANADA

BILL S-218

An Act to amend the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

2018, c. 27, s. 661

Department for Women and Gender Equality Act

1The Department for Women and Gender Equality Act is amended by adding the following after section 5:

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Duty to Examine Bills for Their Effects on Women

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Examination of Government Bills
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5.‍1(1)The Minister must examine every Bill introduced in either House of Parliament by a minister or other representative of the Crown and cause to be tabled, in the House in which the Bill originates, a statement that sets out potential effects of the Bill on women, particularly Indigenous women.

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Tabling of statement
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(2)The Minister must cause the statement to be tabled no later than two sitting days after the day on which the Bill is introduced.

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Examination of other Bills
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5.‍2(1)If a Bill that was not examined under subsection 5.‍1(1) is referred to a committee of the House in which the Bill originates, the Minister must examine the Bill and cause to be tabled in that House a statement setting out potential effects of the Bill on women, and particularly on Indigenous women.

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Tabling of statement
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(2)The Minister must cause the statement to be tabled no later than 10 sitting days after the day on which the Bill is referred to a committee.

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Examination of amendments
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5.‍3If a Bill is amended by the House in which it originates and that Bill is received by the other House, the Minister must cause to be tabled in that House, no later than seven sitting days after that House receives the Bill, a statement setting out potential effects of amendments made by the House in which the Bill originates on women, and particularly on Indigenous women.

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Publication of each statement
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5.‍4The Minister must publish every statement on the departmental website no later than the day after the day on which it is tabled.

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Transitional Provision

2Sections 5.‍1 to 5.‍4 of the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act apply only in respect of a Bill introduced in Parliament on or after the day that is six months after the day on which this Act receives royal assent.

Published under authority of the Senate of Canada



EXPLANATORY NOTES

Department for Women and Gender Equality Act
Clause 1:New.