Any substantive changes in this Legislative Summary that have been made since the preceding issue are indicated in bold print.
Bill C-4, A second act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 21, 2013 and other measures (short title: Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 2) was introduced and read the first time in the House of Commons on 22 October 2013.
As its short and long titles suggest, the purpose of Bill C-4 is to implement the general budgetary policy of the Government presented to the House of Commons on 21 March 2013. Bill C-4 is the second implementation bill in relation to the March 2013 budget. The first, Bill C-60, the Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 1, received Royal Assent on 26 June 2013. The implementation of the government’s budgetary policy through two distinct legislative proposals, one presented shortly after the budget speech in the spring, and the other presented later in the fall, is in line with established legislative practice.
Part 1 of Bill C-4 implements certain income tax measures proposed in the 21 March 2013 budget and other selected tax measures (Clauses 2 to 120). Part 2 implements certain goods and services tax and harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) measures proposed in the budget (Clauses 121 to 124). Part 3 enacts, amends or repeals several Acts of Parliament as diverse as the Public Service Employment Act, the Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts Act, and the Supreme Court Act in order to implement various selected measures (Clauses 125 to 472).
The summary that follows offers a brief description of the main proposals contained in Bill C-4. While the document does not discuss every clause individually, the substance of each part of the bill is addressed. The information is organized according to the parts presented in Bill C-4, for ease of reference.
Clause 46 amends section 110.6(2)(a) of the Income Tax Act (ITA)1 to increase, from $375,000 to $400,000, the total lifetime amount that a taxpayer can deduct from taxable capital gains on the qualified disposition of farm property, fishing property or small business corporation shares.2 The change will take effect in the 2014 taxation year. Clause 49 amends section 117.1(1) to add the amount of $400,000 mentioned in section 110.6(2)(a) to the list of amounts that are indexed to inflation. This indexation will take effect in 2015.
As well, clause 46 replaces sections 110.6(31) and 110.6(32) with new section 110.6(31). Generally, for shares or property that he or she has sold, if an individual receives payment over a number of years rather than in full at the time of disposition, a portion of the deductible capital gain can be reported in the taxation year in which payment is received. Given that, with the change, the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption (LCGE) will increase with inflation starting in 2015, new section 110.6(31) ensures that no LCGE deduction may be claimed for capital gains reported from previous taxation years, except for the LCGE available in the year of disposition.
Clause 25 adds section 56(1)(a)(i)(G) to the ITA. The aim of this provision is to simplify the process by which pension plan administrators can refund a contribution made to a registered pension plan (RPP) as a result of a “reasonable error.” In particular, for contributions made on or after the later of 1 January 2014 and the day on which the new section receives Royal Assent, an amount paid out of an RPP as a refund of contributions will not be included in a taxpayer’s income where:
For example, in relation to a “reasonable error,” an employer who has made a mistake in calculating contributions made by it or by a plan member for a particular year could be required to refund contributions even if the RPP contribution limits for that year have not been exceeded. Prior to the addition of section 56(1)(a)(i)(G), such a refund was excluded from a taxpayer’s income at the discretion of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA); with this change, pension plan administrators can make such a refund without obtaining approval from the CRA if the refund is made no later than 31 December of the year following the year in which the contribution was made.
Clause 67 of Bill C-4 adds section 152(4)(b.1) to the ITA to extend by three years the period during which the minister can, in certain circumstances, reassess outside of the normal reassessment period a participant in a tax shelter or a reportable transaction respecting a tax shelter.
Clause 67 also adds section 152(4)(b.2) to the ITA to extend by three years the period during which the minister can reassess a taxpayer outside of the normal reassessment period if the taxpayer has failed to report income from a specified foreign property on the taxpayer’s annual income tax return and:
Clause 59 amends section 127.4(6) of the ITA to phase out the federal labour-sponsored venture capital corporation tax credit, which has been offered to investors in small to medium-sized Canadian companies. The tax credit rate will be reduced from 15% of the cost to purchase shares in a federally or provincially registered corporation to 10% for the 2015 taxation year, 5% for the 2016 taxation year and 0% for subsequent taxation years. As well, clause 59 repeals section 127.4(2), which enables an individual to claim the tax credit; the repeal will take effect in the 2017 taxation year. The clause also amends section 127.4(5) to lower the limit of the tax credit to $500 for the 2015 taxation year and $250 for the 2016 taxation year.
Clause 73 amends section 204.81(1) to prevent the registration of a labour-sponsored venture capital corporation if the application was not received by the Minister of National Revenue before 21 March 2013. Clause 113 amends section 6701.1 of the Income Tax Regulations (ITR)3 to prevent registration of a labour-sponsored venture capital corporation if the application was not registered under a provincial statute prior to that date.
Finally, clauses 80 and 81 amend sections 211.7(1) and 211.81 respectively to ensure that the penalty for the early disposition of labour-sponsored venture capital corporation shares takes into account the phase-out of the tax credit.
Clause 89 amends section 248(1) of the ITA to add a definition of the term “derivative forward agreement.” 4 Such an agreement is a contract between parties for a term that exceeds 180 days where the future purchase or sale price of a capital property is attributable to an underlying interest - other than the performance of the property or the change in the fair market value of the property over the term of the contract.5 The underlying interest could include a value of an asset, the price of a commodity, an interest rate, a variable, a stock market index, an event, a probability or a thing.
Clauses 4 and 11 amend sections 12 and 20 of the ITA respectively to ensure that income or a loss created through a derivative forward agreement is treated as “ordinary” income or loss and not as a “capital” gain or loss, and to provide transitional rules for derivative forward agreements entered into before 21 March 2013 or after 20 March 2013.
Clause 22 makes consequential amendments to section 53 of the ITA to ensure that the inclusion of income or a loss as a consequence of the derivative forward agreement is accurately reflected in the price of the capital property to prevent the double taxation of income and the “artificial” creation of losses upon subsequent sale.
Clause 89 also amends section 248(1) of the ITA to add a definition for the term “synthetic disposition arrangement.” This is any agreement, series of agreements or other arrangement in respect of a property owned by a taxpayer that allows him or her to eliminate all or substantially all of both risk of loss and opportunity for gain or profit from the property for a definite or indefinite period of time.6
Together, the amendments in clauses 38, 48, 56 and 89 address situations in which taxpayers use a synthetic disposition arrangement to reduce or defer the tax associated with certain transactions. For example:
Clauses 90, 91 and 92 of Bill C-4 amend the ITA to extend to trusts the loss-streaming and related rules that apply on the acquisition of control of a corporation.
This legislative amendment comes as tax authorities have observed that arm’s-length loss trading transactions have been developed to enable some taxpayers to access the unused losses of other taxpayers. Under a typical “loss trading” transaction, a taxpayer acquires an ownership interest in an arm’s-length entity (trust or corporation) that has unused losses and transfers income-producing assets to the entity or merges the entity with a profitable entity with the intention of obtaining an income tax benefit.
In response to the Canada v. Sommerer7 decision, clause 35 amends section 75(2) of the ITA so that the section applies only to trusts resident in Canada.8 Clauses 42 and 44 amend sections 94 and 107(4.1)(b) respectively so that any transfer or loan of property to a trust, including a sale for fair market value, made by a Canadian-resident taxpayer will result in the Canadian-resident taxpayer being considered a contributor to the trust. The trust will be deemed to be resident in Canada, and will be subject to Canadian taxation.
Clause 119 amends Schedule II to the ITR to expand Class 43.2 with respect to cleaning and upgrading equipment that can be used to transform biogas, landfill gas or digester gas into biomethane. Class 43.2 provides an accelerated capital cost allowance (ACCA) rate of 50% per year on a declining balance basis to certain clean energy generation and energy conservation equipment.
Clause 103 amends section 1104(13) of the ITR to add pulp and paper by-product, beverage industry waste (including wastewater) and separated organics from municipal waste to the types of organic waste that can be used in Class 43.2 biogas production equipment.
The changes are effective 21 March 2013.
Clause 70 creates new sections 162(5.1) to 162(5.3) in the ITA to provide for a penalty of $1,000 for the provision of false or incomplete information regarding the disclosure of the identity of the person or partnership who prepared a claim in relation to the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) investment tax credit.9 The clause introduces the term “claim preparer,” which is defined as
a person or partnership who agrees to accept consideration to prepare, or assist in the preparation of, the [SR&ED] form but does not include an employee who prepares, or assists in the preparation of, the form in the course of performing their duties of employment.
Clauses 100, 101 and 118 amend section 1100(1), section 1101 and Schedule II respectively of the ITR to create Class 41.2, which provides for the phasing out of the ACCA rate of 100% for certain mining capital assets acquired for a new mine or an eligible expansion. Under Class 41.2, the ACCA rate of 100% will be reduced to 90% in 2017, 80% in 2018, 60% in 2019 and 30% in 2020; the regular rate of 25% on a declining balance basis will apply after 2020.
Clause 103 amends section 1104(2) of the ITR to exclude from new Class 41.2 capital expenditures incurred after 21 March 2013 and before 2018 with respect to a new mine or an eligible expansion under the following conditions:
These expenses are not subject to the phasing out of the ACCA and will continue to be deductible at the 100% ACCA rate.
References to new Class 41.2 are added to section 1102(8) of the ITR by clause 102, to sections 1104(5), 1104(5.1), 1104(7) and 1104(8.1) by clause 103, to section 4600 by clause 106, and to Schedule II by clauses 116 and 117. In addition, clause 102 adds transitional provisions in new section 1102(14.12) and makes a consequential amendment to section 1102(14).
Clauses 31 and 32 amend sections 66.1(6) and 66.2(5) respectively of the ITA to phase out the preferential deduction rate for certain pre-production mine development expenses qualifying as Canadian exploration expenses (CEE).10 The amendments transition such expenses from the CEE category to the Canadian development expense (CDE) category over the 2013-2018 period. Expenses that are considered to fall within the CDE category can be deducted at a rate of 30% annually.
A portion of eligible pre-production expenses incurred before 2018 will continue to qualify as CEE based on the following rates: 100% in 2013 and 2014, 80% in 2015, 60% in 2016 and 30% in 2017. Starting in 2018, eligible pre-production expenses will qualify as CDE only. Grandfathering provisions are added to section 66.1(6) of the ITA to ensure that eligible pre-production expenses incurred before 2017 continue to be treated as CEE under the following conditions:
The first budget implementation bill in relation to the 2013 federal budget phased out - over five years beginning in 2013 - the additional deduction for credit unions provided under section 137(3) of the ITA, and a consequential amendment was made to the definition of the term “full rate taxable income” in section 123.4(1)(a)(iv).11
Clause 54 of Bill C-4 amends section 123.4(1)(a)(iv) to ensure that the taxable income of a credit union not benefitting from the additional deduction is not precluded, because of that section, from benefitting from the general rate reduction provided in section 123.4(2) of the ITA. (Section 123.4(2) reduces the tax payable by a corporation by 13% of the corporation’s income that is not exempt from tax and not subject to other tax rate reductions.)
Clause 89 amends section 248(1) of the ITA to create new definitions for the terms “10/8 policy” and “LIA policy.” A “10/8 policy” is a life insurance policy purchased by a corporation for an employee that is used by the corporation as collateral for a loan where the return on the investment account for the policy is based on the rate of interest or the amount borrowed. An “LIA policy,” or leveraged insured annuity arrangement policy, is a life insurance policy and annuity purchased by a corporation for an employee that is used by the corporation as collateral by assigning an interest in the policy and in the annuity contract to the lender.
Clause 11 amends section 20 to change the tax treatment of insurance premiums made by a corporation for a 10/8 or LIA policy, while clause 34 amends section 70 to change the valuation of LIA policies at the time of death for tax purposes. Clause 41 amends the definition of the term “capital dividend account” in section 89 to reduce the amount otherwise included in the account for a 10/8 or LIA policy, while clause 65 amends section 148 to adjust the amount to be included in a policyholder’s income for the full or partial surrender of an interest in a 10/8 policy. Finally, clause 96 makes consequential amendments to section 201 of the ITR to limit the filing requirements of LIA insurers, and clause 97 makes consequential amendments to section 306 to ensure that income earned in an LIA policy is taxed on an accrual basis.
Together, these clauses amend the ITA and the ITR to deny the tax benefits associated with 10/8 and LIA policies. For example, prior to these changes, corporations purchasing such policies could deduct the interest payable on borrowing and on the insurance premium, and they could increase the capital dividend account by the amount of the death benefits.
Clause 14 amends section 31 of the ITA12 as a consequence of the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in Canada v. Craig.13 With the change, a taxpayer is limited to the “unrestricted” loss deduction in respect of farm losses if he or she does not have farming, or farming and some other source of income of a lower amount, as his or her livelihood. As well, the “unrestricted” portion of losses from farming for a taxpayer is increased to $2,500 plus half of the next $30,000 of losses.
Clause 94 adds section 256.1 to the ITA to prevent corporations from selling tax attributes to, or purchasing such attributes from, other corporations in order to reduce their tax burden.14 Specifically, clause 94 creates a definition of the term “attribute trading restriction” that applies to transactions between corporations where one corporation holds shares valued at more than 75% of the fair market value of all of the shares of the other corporation.
It also creates rules that deem the corporations, where the attribute trading restriction applies, to be unaffiliated for purposes of loss consolidations within an affiliated or related group. These rules also apply to a series of transactions and to situations where a corporation with undeducted tax attributes acquires control of a profitable corporation and has relied on the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in Duha Printers (Western) Ltd. v. Canada.15
Clauses 39 and 93 make consequential amendments to sections 87 and 256 respectively.
Clause 67 amends section 152 of the ITA to extend the normal reassessment period as follows:
The extended reassessment period for a taxpayer who files an information return required by section 237.1(7) or section 237.2(2) applies only to the deduction or claim for the tax shelter or benefit of the reportable transaction that is required to be reported on such returns.
Clauses 4 and 8 amend sections 12 and 18 of the ITA respectively to extend the thin capitalization rules17 to two groups:
In addition, clause 8 amends section 18(5) to add a definition of the term “equity amount”; the definition provides that the amount of equity in a Canadian-resident trust is determined by reference to the capital contributions from specified non-residents, returns of capital to specified non-residents and retained earnings. The calculation of the “equity amount” excludes distributions of a trust to a non-resident beneficiary that are treated as income for purposes of non-resident withholding tax.
Clauses 71 and 86 of Bill C-4 add sections 163.3 and 239.1 of the ITA, respectively, to impose administrative monetary penalties and establish new criminal offences respecting electronic suppression of sales software or devices that are, or are intended to be, capable of use for records that are required under the ITA. These new penalties and offences would supplement those otherwise provided by the ITA, as well as those provided by the Excise Tax Act.18
Clauses 5 and 10 amend the ITA to restrict the use of “stapled securities” by specified investment flow-through entities (SIFTs), also known as income trusts and partnerships, and real estate investment trusts (REITs).19 Clause 5 adds section 12.6 to provide a series of anti-avoidance rules that apply during a temporary “unstapling” of a stapled security, while clause 10 adds section 18.3 to provide a definition of the term “stapled security” and to identify situations in which a deduction is denied in relation to such a security.
Clauses 51, 68, 69 and 72 amend sections 122.1(1), 156, 157 and 197(6) respectively to clarify the situations in which a trust or partnership is considered to be a SIFT trust or partnership, and to require SIFT trusts and partnerships to be subject to the same rules as public corporations in relation to the payment - through instalments - of estimated tax liabilities.
Finally, clause 83 responds to the Tax Court of Canada decision in Richard Lewin Re: The J.J. Herbert Family Trust #1 v. the Queen,20 which indicated that, in situations where a Canadian-resident trust becomes non-resident, withholding tax would not apply to payments to non-resident beneficiaries. This clause amends section 214(3)(f) of the ITA to ensure that withholding tax is applicable on payments made by a Canadian resident trust that becomes non-resident. The withholding tax is applied by deeming the payments to have been made when the trust was resident in Canada.
Clause 60 amends section 127.52 of the ITA to restrict an individual’s limited partnership loss for the purpose of calculating the alternative minimum tax21 only if his or her interest in the partnership is an interest for which an identification number must be, or has been, obtained under section 237.1 of the ITA.22
Clauses 74 to 79 amend sections 207.01, 207.04, 207.05, 207.06, 207.061 and 207.07 to restrict the application of the tax specified in Part XI.01 of the ITA.23 In particular, the tax specified in that part will not be applied on Tax-Free Savings Account, Registered Retirement Savings Plan or Registered Retirement Income Fund investments that are “excluded property.” 24
Finally, clause 24 amends section 55 to provide tax relief to taxpayers receiving dividends25 from a “related” corporation26 during certain corporate reorganizations that have been outlined in various comfort letters issued by the Department of Finance since October 2004. These reorganizations include an internal reorganization between a parent and a subsidiary, and the splitting of a corporation.
Clause 87(1) provides clarification that taxpayer information may be disclosed to an official of Employment and Social Development Canada for the purpose of the administration or enforcement of an employment program for temporary foreign workers.
Clause 87(1) also allows the federal government to provide the telephone number of a taxpayer to a federal or provincial government department or agency solely for research and analysis.
Clauses 121 and 123 of Bill C-4 add sections 285.01 and 327.1, respectively, to the Excise Tax Act to impose administrative monetary penalties and criminal sentences for electronic suppression of sales software or devices that may be used or are intended to be used for records that must be kept under the Excise Tax Act. These new penalties and sentences are added to the penalties that may be imposed under the ITA.
Clause 124 of Bill C-4 amends section 10 of Part VI of Schedule V to the Excise Tax Act in order to exclude from exemption the supply of a parking space if it is made for consideration, by way of lease, licence or similar arrangement and in the course of a business carried on by a public sector body.
The amendment clarifies that section 10 of Part VI of Schedule V does not apply to supplies of commercial paid parking by a public sector body even if the body provides a significant amount of parking at no charge.
Clauses 125 to 134 and 136 to 156 of Bill C-4 amend the Employment Insurance Act 27 and other Acts to make the following changes to employment insurance (EI) program financing:
Clause 135 of Bill C-4 both extends and expands a temporary measure aimed at small employers. Employers who paid up to $15,000 in EI premiums in their 2013 taxation year will be eligible for a refund of increases in their contributions. This measure has been extended beyond its earlier limit of 2012 and the previous annual premium amount of $10,000. The maximum rebate is $1,000 per employer (this remains unchanged).
Clause 157 of Bill C-4 makes technical adjustments to the Employment Insurance (Fishing) Regulations 29 (EIFR). They ensure that, if a person had both fishing and non-fishing earnings and claims regular benefits, the fishing earnings continue to be included in the calculation of benefits as determined in the EIFR. This would be in line with the recent changes made to the calculation of EI regular benefits (for those without fishing earnings).
Clause 159 repeals section 20 of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Act.30 Under this section, the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, the Commissioner of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, the Governor of the Bank of Canada, the Chairperson of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Deputy Minister of Finance are prohibited from borrowing money from a federally regulated financial institution or from a corporation that has insurance under the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act without giving notice to the Minister of Finance. Clause 166 repeals section 15 of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Act,31 which restricted the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada in a similar way.
Clause 160 repeals section 164(g) of the Trust and Loan Companies Act;32 clauses 161 to 163 repeal sections 160(g), 160.1 and 750(g) of the Bank Act; 33 and clauses 164 and 165 repeal sections 168(1)(g), 168(3) and 797(g) of the Insurance Companies Act.34 With some exceptions,35 these sections prohibited federal and provincial Crown agents, as well as federal and provincial government employees, from being directors of federally regulated financial institutions, including banks, trust and loan companies and insurance companies and their related holding companies.
Clauses 167 to 173 amend section 451 of the Trust and Loan Companies Act, sections 466 and 928 of the Bank Act, sections 493, 552 and 969 of the Insurance Companies Act, and section 388 of the Cooperative Credit Associations Act.36 These provisions deal with permitted investments by Canadian financial institutions. With the changes, Canadian financial institutions will not be permitted to indirectly acquire control of, or indirectly acquire or increase a substantial investment in, a regulated foreign entity operating primarily outside of Canada that is engaged in banking, insurance, a cooperative credit society, providing fiduciary services or dealing in securities.
Canadian financial institutions that currently have substantial investments in this type of foreign entity may continue to hold those investments.
Division 4 of Part 3 makes two amendments in relation to passports. These amendments appear to be largely for the purpose of ensuring that the appropriate minister is referred to, since passports are now administered by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration rather than the Minister of Foreign Affairs.37
Clause 174 of Bill C-4 amends section 57(5) of the Criminal Code,38 which defines the word “passport” for the purposes of various offences relating to passports. Currently under that section,
“passport” means a document issued by or under the authority of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the purpose of identifying the holder thereof.
Bill C-4 amends this section so that it instead says that “‘passport’ has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Canadian Passport Order”:
“passport” means an official Canadian document that shows the identity and nationality of a person for the purpose of facilitating travel by that person outside Canada.39
Clause 175 amends section 11(1) of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act.40 Currently under that section, the Governor in Council may, on the recommendation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Treasury Board, make regulations prescribing documents issued by the minister for travel purposes for which fees are payable, as well as the amount of the fees and the time and manner of their payment. Clause 175 specifies this means “documents issued by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration,” most likely since “Minister” would otherwise mean “Minister of Foreign Affairs” as a result of section 2 of that Act.41 In practice, it appears that this provision relates only to fees that recover the Department of Foreign Affairs’ costs in providing consular services;42 fees for travel documents more generally43 are established under the Financial Administration Act.44
The Canada Labour Code (the Code) applies to federally regulated businesses, such as airlines, airports, ports, interprovincial transportation, telecoms and certain federal Crown corporations, such as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.45
Clause 176 repeals the definitions “health and safety officer” and “regional health and safety officer,” and according to clauses 177 to 179, the powers of these officers are now to be exercised by the Minister of Labour. For instance, under sections 122(1) and 125(1)(x) of the Code as amended by the bill, the Minister of Labour or the appeals officer may now give oral or written direction concerning health and safety.
The bill also changes the definition of “danger” so that section 122(1) of the Code now states that danger is something “that could reasonably be expected to be an imminent or serious threat to the life or health of a person.”
Through amendments in clause 180, the Minister of Labour is involved in the internal complaint resolution process. New sections 127.1(8) to 127.1(11) of the Code stipulate that the minister will receive complaints from an employer or employee regarding a contravention of the sections with respect to health and safety and that the minister may decide to investigate the complaint and to make recommendations or issue directions in order to rectify any contravention of the Code with respect to health and safety.
New sections 128(12) to 128(14) of the Code also regulate the employer’s decision regarding an employee’s refusal to work under dangerous conditions. The employer may:
An employee who disagrees with the employer’s decision may continue to refuse to work. Under new section 129(1) of the Code, the Minister of Labour may then decide whether to investigate the matter again. New section 129(7) provides that an employee who still disagrees with the decision by the Minister of Labour may appeal the decision to an appeals officer.
The bill also provides, through the addition of new section 140 of the Code, for the exercise of the Minister of Labour’s powers in relation to health and safety. New section 140(1) states that the Minister of Labour may delegate to any qualified person or class of persons any of the powers that the minister may exercise himself or herself. Under new sections 140(2) and 140(3), the minister may delegate his or her powers by entering into an agreement with a province or any provincial body. The delegates of the Minister of Labour are not personally liable for any acts or omissions committed in good faith. New section 140(6) states that this immunity does not extend to Her Majesty in right of Canada, which remains liable for any acts or omissions.
Division 6 of the bill amends the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development Act 46 to change the name of the department to the Department of Employment and Social Development and to reflect that name change in the title of that Act and of its responsible minister. In addition, the division amends Part 6 of the Act to extend the Minister’s powers with respect to certain Acts, programs and activities and to allow the Minister of Labour to administer or enforce electronically the Canada Labour Code. The division also adds the title of the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs to the Salaries Act.47 Lastly, it makes consequential amendments to several other Acts to reflect these changes, mostly those regarding the change in the names of the minister and the department.
Division 7 gives the federal government the power to dispose of, or otherwise deal in any way with, the Dominion Coal Blocks, two parcels of land totalling 20,000 hectares in the Crow’s Nest Pass region between Alberta and British Columbia.
Under the Constitution Act, 1867, the provinces own natural resources within their territory. However, in 1905, the Government of Canada acquired the Dominion Coal Blocks from the Province of British Columbia in exchange for support provided by the federal government for the construction of a railway through the Crow’s Nest Pass.
In August 2013, the Government of Canada signalled its intention to review federal real property holdings, including the Dominion Coal Blocks, with a view to determining if continued public ownership of these assets remained relevant.48 Division 7 of Part 3 is the further expression of this objective.
The Dominion Coal Blocks are defined in clause 239 as consisting of two lots: Parcel 73, which is approximately 2,000 hectares, and Parcel 82, which is in excess of 18,000 hectares. A specified part of Parcel 82 is excluded from potential disposition.
Clause 241 gives the federal government broad powers to deal with any part of, or interest in, the Dominion Coal Blocks as it considers appropriate.
Clause 244 provides that any obligations and liabilities the federal government has under the Crow’s Nest Pass Act and all rights acquired by any other party in relation to the conveyance of the Dominion Coal Blocks to the Government of Canada are terminated with the coming into force of that clause. No compensation may be claimed for rights extinguished by the coming into force of this legislation.
Any money from the sale of the Dominion Coal Blocks is public money for the purposes of the Financial Administration Act.
The Federal Real Property and Federal Immovables Act does not apply to the disposition of the Dominion Coal Blocks (clause 248).
Division 8 authorizes the amalgamation of four federal Crown corporations: The Federal Bridge Corporation Limited, the St. Mary’s River Bridge Company, the Seaway International Bridge Corporation, Ltd., and the Blue Water Bridge Authority. These corporations operate international bridge crossings between Canada and the United States. The St. Mary’s River Bridge Company and the Seaway International Bridge Corporation, Ltd., are both fully owned subsidiaries of the Federal Bridge Corporation Limited, whereas the Blue Water Bridge Authority is an autonomous parent Crown corporation.
The corporation resulting from the amalgamation of these four Crown corporations would operate under the direction of the chief executive officer and the members of the board of directors of the Federal Bridge Corporation Limited. The amalgamated corporation would have the power to collect tolls and other fees for the crossings it operates, and issue debt to finance its operations up to a total amount of $130 million.
Division 8 also makes consequential amendments to other Acts and repeals five Acts that would no longer serve a purpose if the operations of the St. Mary’s River Bridge Company, the Seaway International Bridge Corporation, Ltd., and the Blue Water Bridge Authority were amalgamated with those of the Federal Bridge Corporation Limited.
According to the Financial Administration Act, all borrowing from capital markets by a corporation that is an agent of the Crown must be approved by Parliament. Clause 270 of Bill C-4 amends section 100 of the Financial Administration Act to allow agent corporations either to pledge any securities or cash that they hold or to give deposits as a security for the payment or performance of obligations arising out of derivative contracts they enter into - or guarantee - for the “management of financial risks.”
Section 83(1) of the Financial Administration Act defines the term “agent corporation” to mean “a Crown corporation that is expressly declared by or pursuant to any other Act of Parliament to be an agent of the Crown.” Not all Crown corporations are agent corporations.
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC),49 a federal organization for which the Minister of Industry has responsibility, was created by the National Research Council Act 50 to conduct scientific research on behalf of the federal government and private industry. The name “National Research Council” refers to both the various organizations under the governance of the NRC and the NRC’s governing council (the Council). At present, the Council is composed of a president and 18 members appointed by the Governor in Council for three-year terms. Clause 271 defines the term “Chairperson” to mean the chairperson of the Council, a position created by the bill.
Clause 272 replaces section 3(1) of the National Research Council Act to re-establish the Council and its name, but change its composition. In particular, the newly created role of chairperson is added to the Council, the number of members is reduced from 18 to 12, and the president continues to be a Council member. Clause 273 amends section 9 to allow the Minister of Industry - with the approval of the Governor in Council - to appoint a person to act as president or chairperson of the Council for a period of 90 days or longer; in cases where the appointment is for longer than 90 days, the approval of the Governor in Council is required.
Section 11(2), which stipulates that the salary of the acting president be set by Governor in Council, is repealed by clause 274. Finally, clause 275 replaces section 13, and provides the Council’s chairperson with the authority to determine the location of and to preside over Council meetings. The Act currently permits the Council to determine the location of meetings.
Clause 276 of the bill decreases the maximum number of permanent members on the Veterans Review and Appeal Board from 29 to 25. Section 18 of the Veterans Review and Appeal Board Act 51 states,
The Board has full and exclusive jurisdiction to hear, determine and deal with all applications for review that may be made to the Board under the Pension Act or the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act, and all matters related to those applications.
When an initial application for review is made, a review panel is formed, usually consisting of two permanent members. Veterans who are dissatisfied with this panel’s decision may appeal the decision. The appeal panel consists of a minimum of three members, none of whom may have sat on the initial review panel. The Veterans Review and Appeal Board’s 2012-13 Report on Plans and Priorities states that the workload is managed by “up to 29 permanent Board Members and 85 operational staff.” 52 The report also states that the workload is managed “with an average of 25 permanent Board Members and 85 operational staff.” 53 In 2011-2012, the Board’s objective was to issue review panel or appeal panel decisions within six weeks of the hearing.54 In 2013-2014, the target was 80% of decisions “issued within the published service standard.” 55
Clause 277 amends section 10(4) of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act 56 to add an obligation for the Minister of Finance when making a recommendation to the Governor in Council regarding the appointment of directors and the appointment of a person to replace a director who leaves the position during its term. In particular, the minister must “endeavour” to ensure that a maximum of three of the 12 directors of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board reside outside Canada. It also repeals section 10(9)(h) to remove the requirement that directors reside in Canada.
Clause 278 provides for the coming into force of the provision.
Clause 279 amends section 11 of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act 57 to ensure that legal counsel is not required to disclose communications that are protected by solicitor-client privilege; with the change, the current stipulation in Part 1 that legal counsel is not required to disclose such communications is expanded to the entire Act.
Clause 279 also amends section 65(3) so that any information discovered by the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada during attempts to ensure compliance by reporting entities, and subsequently disclosed to law enforcement agencies and regulatory authorities, can only be used by those agencies and authorities in relation to a contravention of or lack of compliance with Part 1 of the Act, and Part 1.1 when it comes into force.58
Division 14 repeals the Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts Act 59 and establishes the Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts Fund Act.
The Mackenzie Gas Project is a proposal by a consortium to develop three natural gas fields in and near the Mackenzie Delta in the Northwest Territories, and to build pipelines, facilities and other infrastructure necessary to transport natural gas and natural gas liquids south to markets. The project has been approved by the National Energy Board, which issued a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity approved by the Governor in Council in March 2011. According to conditions of the certificate, the consortium must file updated cost estimates for the project and report - by 31 December 2013 - on their decision to construct. As well, construction must begin on the project by 31 December 2015 or the certificate will expire.
The Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts Act was part of the Budget Implementation Act, 2006 and came into force 10 November 2006. It provided for the $500-million Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts Fund, which is to compensate for the possible effects of the Mackenzie Gas Project should it proceed. The Budget Implementation Act, 2006 also established the Corporation for the Mitigation of Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts, with a mandate to distribute the funds to regional organizations for eligible projects consistent with criteria set out in the legislation. As the release of funds is contingent on the Mackenzie Gas Project proceeding and the project has not commenced, no funds have been paid out to date.
The purpose of the Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts Fund Act that is enacted by Division 14 is to establish the Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts Fund, which is to provide contributions to regional organizations for projects that mitigate existing or anticipated socio-economic impacts on communities in the Northwest Territories arising from the Mackenzie gas project, and that meet any additional criteria established under the legislation.
The fund consists of $500 million credited to it from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Regional organizations to which funds may be distributed are defined as those set out in the schedule to the Act, which as yet contains no names. The Governor in Council may add or delete the name of any regional organization set out in the schedule.
In many respects, the new Act is identical to the repealed legislation. However, under the Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts Fund Act, funds are to be distributed by a designated minister of the Queen’s Privy Council rather than a corporation created for that purpose. Also new under the Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts Fund Act is the stipulation that interest on the balance of the fund must be credited to the fund.
Clause 9 of the Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts Fund Act states that before providing a contribution to a regional organization, the minister must enter into an agreement with that organization that sets out the manner in which contributions are to be made, terms and conditions for those contributions, and provisions for the evaluation of the regional organization’s performance in achieving the objectives of the project.
These provisions are identical to the previous legislation but for the substitution of the minister as responsible for entering into agreements rather than a corporation established for that purpose.
As in the repealed legislation, the payment of funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to the Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts Fund are conditional upon the Mackenzie Gas Project not being terminated and the designated minister being of the opinion that progress is being made on the project.
Division 14 makes several consequential amendments to other legislation as a result of the repeal of the Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts Act. Schedules to the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act are amended to remove the Corporation for the Mitigation of Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts from the list of “other government institutions” to which provisions of those Acts apply. Similarly, the Corporation for the Mitigation of Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts is removed from Schedule III of the Financial Administration Act.
Clause 286 repeals section 209 of the Budget Implementation Act, 2006, which provided for the funds for the Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts Fund to be paid to the Corporation for the Mitigation of Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Division 15 of Part 3 of Bill C-4, consisting of clauses 288 and 289, amends the Conflict of Interest Act.60 Clause 288 of the bill amends the definitions for “public office holder” and “reporting public office holder” found in the current section 2 by reference to new sections 62.1 and 62.2, added by clause 289 to the end of Part 4 of the Act, in the “Administrative Monetary Penalties” section.
The bill’s most notable addition to the Act is found in new section 62.2. The current definitions give the appropriate minister the ability to designate a full-time ministerial appointee as a “public office holder” and to designate a full-time ministerial appointee who is a public office holder as a “reporting public office holder.” The new section authorizes the Governor in Council to designate, by order, any person as a “public office holder” and any public office holder as a “reporting public office holder.” In both cases, this designation can apply to a person or class of persons.
The new power that section 62.2 gives to the Governor in Council is somewhat similar to the power assigned in section 12(c.1) of the Lobbying Act.61 This provision enables the Governor in Council to make regulations designating, individually or by class, a “public office holder” as a “designated public officer holder” if, in the opinion of the Governor in Council, doing so is necessary for the purposes of the Lobbying Act. New section 62.2 of the Conflict of Interest Act does not contain a necessity test similar to the one in the Lobbying Act.
Clause 290 of Bill C-4 amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)62 to create an additional and entirely new way for foreign nationals to become permanent residents of Canada through the economic class stream. Following a two-step process, a foreign national will first electronically submit an “Expression of Interest” to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC); the Expression of Interest will be assessed automatically.63 The candidate will then be placed in a pool where he or she will be ranked against other foreign nationals. In the second step, once CIC is made aware that an employer has offered employment to the candidate, who is already in the pool, and secured an approved labour market opinion,64 an “Invitation to Apply” will be issued to the candidate, who will then submit a complete immigration application to CIC. The department will review the application and, if all the criteria are met, issue the candidate a permanent resident visa.
New section 10.3 of IRPA contains a detailed list of elements that the minister may set out in instructions to guide the implementation of this process, including the following:
Certain instructions will have to be published in the Canada Gazette, and all instructions will be available on the CIC website.
Clause 291 precludes requests for exemption from any of these new criteria or obligations on the basis of humanitarian and compassionate considerations.
Clause 292 provides that the provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act dealing with paid representatives also apply to services provided in connection with the submission of an expression of interest.
Division 17 amends the Public Service Labour Relations Act (PSLRA)65 to change two important aspects of labour relations in the public service:
It also makes a number of changes to the Canadian Human Rights Act 66 to enable discrimination-based grievances to be determined exclusively by adjudication under the PSLRA. Finally, Division 17 makes changes to the complaints process under the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA)67 related to layoffs and the internal appointments process.
It should be noted that Part 3, Division 18, of the bill replaces the Public Service Labour Relations Board (PSLRB) and the Public Service Staffing Tribunal with a Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board (PSLREB) to exercise the functions of those two bodies. The first dealt with collective bargaining disputes under the PSLRA, while the second dealt with complaints about the staffing and classification process under the PSEA.
Currently, a bargaining agent (union) may choose the process for resolving collective bargaining disputes: arbitration or conciliation. Arbitration results in a decision (or award) that is binding on the parties. The choice of arbitration also means that a strike is not permitted. Conciliation results in a report by a public interest commission established under the PSLRA, which assists the parties in entering into a collective agreement. The Commission may recommend various means to resolve a dispute, including an award, but its report is not binding on the parties unless they agree to be bound prior to the start of the conciliation process.68 Following a conciliation report, the parties may continue bargaining and a strike remains a possibility, subject to an essential services agreement.
New section 103 of the PSLRA, contained in clause 302 of the bill, makes conciliation the process of dispute resolution where the parties have not been able to negotiate a collective agreement. As set out in new section 104(1), however, the employer (the Treasury Board) and the bargaining agent for the bargaining unit may instead agree to arbitration as the method of dispute resolution. Under new section 104(2) of the PSLRA, arbitration is the means of resolving collective bargaining disputes where a bargaining unit has 80% or more of its positions designated as essential service positions.
New section 104(1) of the PSLRA states that if the employer is a separate agency, where the Treasury Board is not the employer, as is the case for agencies such as the Canada Revenue Agency and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the agency must obtain the approval of the president of the Treasury Board before choosing arbitration as the means of resolving a collective bargaining dispute.
New section 148(1) of the PSLRA, contained in clause 307 of Bill C-4, re-orders and gives “preponderance” to certain factors that an arbitration board must consider in making an arbitration award in respect of a collective agreement. In addition, new section 148(1) makes reference to “prudent use of public funds” and whether compensation levels are sufficient to allow the employer to meet its operational needs.
Specifically, the bill provides that an arbitration board must be guided by the necessity of attracting and retaining competent public servants and Canada’s fiscal circumstances in relation to its stated budget objectives. An arbitration board is permitted to consider other factors, if relevant. Some examples are comparability of terms of employment in different segments of the public sector and the private sector; reasonableness of terms and conditions of employment in relation to the qualifications and the work performed; and the state of the Canadian economy.
Under new section 158.1 of the PSLRA, the chairperson of the PSLREB has the power to direct an arbitration board to review an arbitral award, on his or her own initiative or at the request of either party to the award, if in the chairperson’s opinion the award does not represent a reasonable application of the factors listed in section 148. The arbitration board may confirm or amend the award.
Clauses 316 and 317 state that a public interest commission conducting a conciliation process must consider the same factors as an arbitration board. The ordering of these factors is modified consistent with the ordering of factors under the arbitration process.
Clause 318 amends section 179 of the PSLRA to stipulate that the chairperson of the PSLREB may require the public interest commission to reconsider or clarify any aspect of its report if he or she is of the opinion that the relevant factors were not properly applied. This matches a similar provision related to arbitration awards.
Currently, the process for determining what positions in a bargaining unit are considered essential services - services that must be maintained because of their importance to the public - requires that the employer and a bargaining agent negotiate an agreement prior to a strike. Failing an agreement, the PSLRB must determine which positions are to be designated as essential. The bill changes this process significantly.
Various amendments in the bill will affect the grievance process under the PSLRA for discrimination-based grievances. Following are some of the amendments:
According to clauses 348 and 349 of Bill C-4, employees selected for lay-off may only make a complaint to the PSLREB if they are part of a group of employees who occupy positions at the same group and level and perform similar duties who are not selected for lay-off.
The bill gives the PSLREB authority to make findings of discriminatory practices in respect of layoffs in accordance with the Canadian Human Rights Act under new sections 65(5) and 76.1 of the PSEA.
Sections 77 and 79 of the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA) deal with appointments made or proposed by the Public Service Commission in an internal appointment process. Currently, section 77 provides that unsuccessful candidates and persons in a designated selection area may make a complaint to the Public Service Staffing Tribunal on the grounds of abuse of authority by the Commission in the selection process or failure to assess a candidate in the official language of his or her choice may be made. Clause 351 amends these sections of the Act so that a complaint may be made if the complainants have been determined by the Commission to meet the essential qualifications for the work to be performed. However, no complaints may be made for certain types of appointments, such as reappointment on revocation by a deputy head or the Commission, priorities in respect of surplus employees and reappointment following an order of the PSLREB.
Under new section 78 of the PSEA, a person who does not meet the essential qualifications for the work to be performed may make a complaint concerning that determination. No complaint may be made for the classes of appointments noted above.
Clauses 352 to 355 of the bill grant the PSLREB powers to order various kinds of corrective action, and the authority to make findings of discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act.
Bill C-4 effectively combines the functions of the PSLRB and the Public Service Staffing Tribunal and assigns them to the new PSLREB. It does so by enacting a new statute, the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board Act (PSLREBA) and amending several statutes, the principal ones being the PSLRA, the PSEA, the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act (PESRA) 69 and the Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act (PSECA).70
The current PSLRB is constituted under, and its mandate and powers are prescribed by, the PSLRA. It serves as the dispute resolution body for collective bargaining matters in the public service, as well as for parliamentary employees under the PESRA. It is also mandated to refer grievances arising under a collective agreement for adjudication and to determine matters arising under the health and safety provisions in Part 3 of the PSLRA. The Tribunal hears and determines complaints from public servants in matters concerning staffing and classification of positions in the public service, including separate agencies.
The PSLREBA establishes the new PSLREB, and together with amendments to the PSLRA the PSEA and to a lesser extent, the PESRA and the PSECA, prescribes the new Board’s mandate and powers, its composition and its functions. Many of the aspects relating to the PSLREB are now found in the new statute. Others remain in the PSLRA, the PSEA, the PESRA or the PSECA.
Clause 365 enacts the PSLREBA. In most important respects, the appointment of members of the new PSLREB, the tenure of the members of the Board and provisions for remuneration - all of which are set out in sections 5 to 20 of the PSLREBA - remain the same as they were under the PSLRA. One notable exception concerns the criterion of knowledge and experience in labour relations matters: it is no longer found in the legislation. This may reflect the fact that the new PSLREB’s mandate extends beyond labour relations and includes staffing and classification in the public service, functions now performed by the Tribunal under the PSEA. Members will continue to be appointed by the Governor in Council; full-time members will hold office for renewable terms of five years and part-time members for three years, and they are to be removed only for cause.
The provisions of the PSLRA concerning the appointment of Board members from among candidates whose names have been submitted by employer and bargaining agent representatives continues under the PSLREBA.
The procedural powers of the PSLREB under the PSLREBA in relation to proceedings before the Board (found in sections 19 to 24) include the power to summon witnesses, administer oaths, develop pre-hearing procedures, accept any evidence and compel production of documents.
In sections 25 to 30, the PSLREBA prescribes the general powers of the chairperson of the PSLREB, as chief executive officer, to direct and supervise the work of the PSLREB, assign members to panels, manage the new Board’s human resources and exercise the powers of the Treasury Board as an employer in determining terms and conditions of employment.
The regulation-making powers of the Board are now found in both section 36 of the PSLREBA and in the amended PSLRA. The regulation-making power in the PSLREBA largely deals with hearing procedures. The PSLREBA also grants a residual power to make regulations where necessary in the exercise of the new Board’s functions and powers.
One significant change affecting adjudication panels, whose composition and administration are set out in sections 37 to 40 of the PSLREBA, is the establishment of one-member panels as the norm and three-member panels as the exception. Under the current PSLRA, one-member panels are the exception, to be constituted by the chairperson of the PSLRB where “appropriate in the circumstances.”
Clause 367 sets out the adjudication and mediations services of the PSLREB. The provisions mandating the Board to provide adjudication and mediation services remain unchanged. However, the provision mandating the Board to provide research and analysis in respect of compensation has been repealed as has the provision establishing an advisory board to provide the chairperson of the Board with advice on research and analysis about compensation.
Amended section 16 of the PSLRA provides that a number of powers to be exercised by the PSLREB, mainly in relation to the certification process, will remain in the PSLRA, including the power:
The regulation-making power under the amended PSLRA, set out in clause 368 of Bill C-4, is largely related to the process to certify bargaining agents and determine bargaining units.
The PSEA will no longer refer to the Tribunal, its powers, mandate and functions, since these are now assumed by the new Board. In addition, the provisions concerning the complaints process under the PSEA are repealed, since the new Board will assume all responsibility for adjudication of these complaints.
The PSLREB will have regulation-making powers under section 109 of the PSEA for matters relating to the scope of the PSEA - that is, staffing and classification in the public service.
The amendments to PESRA are minor in nature, since the current Board is already responsible for adjudication of collective bargaining disputes for parliamentary employees.
The PSECA governs pay equity in the federal public sector. It is currently not in force. Changes to PSECA are minor in nature, since the PSLREB is already mandated to determine pay equity disputes. PSECA supplements the powers of the PSLREB granted under the PSLREBA with powers specific to the pay equity dispute resolution process.
Division 19 of Part 3 adds two new sections to the Supreme Court Act,71 in order to clarify certain eligibility criteria for Supreme Court justices.72 The need for clarity appears to have arisen in the context of the nomination of Justice Marc Nadon to the Court, to replace Justice Morris Fish, a retiring Quebec judge.73
According to his biography, Justice Nadon practised law in Montréal from 1974 to 1993, and was a judge of the Federal Court from 1993 to 2001 and a judge of the Federal Court of Appeal from 2001 until his appointment to the Supreme Court.74 In announcing Justice Nadon’s nomination, the Prime Minister also released a legal opinion from retired Supreme Court Justice Ian Binnie stating that a sitting Federal Court judge is qualified for appointment to the Supreme Court as a Quebec member, assuming that the judge has been a member of the Quebec bar for 10 years prior to appointment to the Federal Court.75 This question of qualification arose because sections 5 and 6 of the Act can be interpreted in different ways.
Currently, under section 5 of the Act, any person may be appointed a Supreme Court judge who is or has been a judge of a superior court of a province or a barrister or advocate with at least 10 years’ standing at the bar of a province.76 Section 6 of the Act, which is specific to the province of Quebec, states as follows: “At least three of the judges shall be appointed from among the judges of the Court of Appeal or of the Superior Court of the Province of Quebec or from among the advocates of that Province.”
As a result, some have questioned whether Justice Nadon was qualified for appointment to the Supreme Court of Canada, since he was not a judge of the Court of Appeal or of the Superior Court of Quebec, nor was he “among the advocates” of that province at the time of his appointment. The appointment is currently being challenged on that basis, alongside other arguments, including that the appointment of Federal Court judges as “Quebec” judges would change the “composition” of the Supreme Court and would require a constitutional amendment.77
Bill C-4 was introduced by the Government subsequent to these events, with the following two “declaratory provisions” 78 added following sections 5 and 6, respectively, of the Supreme Court Act, for the stated purpose of “clarifying - without making changes to the existing law - that individuals with at least 10 years [at the] Quebec bar at any time during their career, are eligible to sit on the Supreme Court of Canada as a Quebec member”: 79
5.1 For greater certainty, for the purpose of section 5, a person may be appointed a judge if, at any time, they were a barrister or advocate of at least 10 years standing at the bar of a province.
6.1 For greater certainty, for the purpose of section 6, a judge is from among the advocates of the Province of Quebec if, at any time, they were an advocate of at least 10 years standing at the bar of that Province.
In addition, the government has referred the following two questions80 to the Supreme Court for hearing and consideration under section 53 of the Supreme Court Act :
1. Can a person who was, at any time, an advocate of at least 10 years standing at the Barreau du Québec be appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada as a member of the Supreme Court from Quebec pursuant to sections 5 and 6 of the Supreme Court Act?
2. Can Parliament enact legislation that requires that a person be or has previously been a barrister or advocate of at least 10 years standing at the bar of a province as a condition of appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court of Canada or enact the annexed declaratory provisions as set out in clauses 471 and 472 of the Bill entitled Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 2?
* Notice: For clarity of exposition, the legislative proposals set out in the bill described in this Legislative Summary are stated as if they had already been adopted or were in force. It is important to note, however, that bills may be amended during their consideration by the House of Commons and Senate, and have no force or effect unless and until they are passed by both houses of Parliament, receive Royal Assent, and come into force. [ Return to text ]
This Legislative Summary was prepared by the following authors:
After a statute is enacted, in the large majority of cases, Parliament has done its job and will not get involved again in the legislative norm it created. However, it may happen on rare occasions that the author of the Act revisits it, explicitly, with a view of removing a doubt or specifying the scope of the legislation, by means of another piece of legislation. If this latter enactment is not intended to create or amend a statutory norm, but instead to clarify the existing one, we speak of declaratory Acts … [T]he main consequence of a declaratory Act is the retroactive legal effect it produces [emphasis in original]. [ Return to text ]
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