Bill C-24 · 37th Parliament · Paul Martin
An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act
Government bill. Became law.
- IntroducedMarch 12, 2004
- Debated in principleMarch 12, 2004
- Studied by a committeeDone
- Passed its first chamberMarch 12, 2004
- Passed the second chamberMay 10, 2004
- Became lawMay 14, 2004
Leading supporters
Ranked by the part each played: who is responsible for the bill, who carried it, and who spoke for it most.
- Paul MartinPrime Minister
Who carries this bill
Arrows run from the person responsible to those who answer to them on this bill. The critic leads the Senate’s scrutiny and answers to no one on it.
Where members stand
Votes and debate for this bill have not been read yet.
How it changed on the way
The texts have not been compared yet.
How precisely it is written
preciseChallenging the law: HardDisputing a charge: Hard
The bill uses fixed numerical thresholds for age and years of service plus a short list of objective triggering events to determine eligibility for insurance plans. All key conditions are stated as facts that can be checked without subjective judgment or official discretion.
Clear-cut
“having reached 50 years of age and having contributed or elected to contribute under the Members of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act as a member for at least six years”
Sets exact numerical cut-offs for age and contribution period that admit no interpretive debate.“reaches 55 years of age; (b) becomes entitled to receive a disability pension under the Canada Pension Plan or a provincial pension plan similar to it; or (c) becomes a member of the Senate or the House of Commons”
Lists three concrete, verifiable events that automatically end eligibility.“is deemed to be in receipt of an allowance, other than a withdrawal allowance, under that Act for the purpose of being eligible to participate”
Creates an automatic legal fiction once the factual preconditions are satisfied, leaving no room for case-by-case assessment.
Discretion. No power is delegated to ministers, officials or regulations; eligibility follows directly from the statutory facts and deeming rules.
Challenging the law itself. The section grants benefits rather than imposing restrictions, so doctrines of vagueness or overbreadth under the Charter are unlikely to apply.
Disputing a charge under it. Eligibility turns on verifiable facts such as age, contribution records and receipt of CPP disability, leaving little factual dispute for a claimant to raise.
Read by a language model from the royal assent text; every quoted phrase appears in the bill. A reading of the drafting, not legal advice.
Did it work?
no evaluation found
Who lobbied on it
No lobbying registration naming this bill is loaded.
Stages and dates from LEGISinfo.