Bill C-292 · 39th Parliament · Stephen Harper
Kelowna Accord Implementation Act
An Act to implement the Kelowna Accord
Private member’s bill. Became law.
- IntroducedDone
- Debated in principleDone
- Studied by a committeeDone
- Passed its first chamberDone
- Passed the second chamberJune 11, 2008
- Became lawJune 18, 2008
Leading supporters
Ranked by the part each played: who is responsible for the bill, who carried it, and who spoke for it most.
- Larry W. CampbellSenate · Sponsor in the Senate
- Claudette TardifSenate · SenatorNotes the bill's examination by committee without amendment and expresses hope it will pass third reading quickly.
- Lillian Eva DyckSenate · SenatorUrges all senators to pass the bill as it provides an opportunity for action following the residential schools apology.
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
77% of the text as introduced was changed or removed by the time it became law (449 words introduced, 474 passed).
substantial changeintent narrowed
The requirement for an annual report to Parliament was dropped from the bill. The core obligation to implement the Kelowna Accord remained but the bill received royal assent two years after introduction with updated session and chapter details.
How precisely it is written
vagueChallenging the law: ModerateDisputing a charge: Easy
The bill imposes a broad duty to implement an external accord using undefined terms and open-ended language. Precise elements are limited to fixed reporting deadlines.
Open to argument
“its obligations under the Kelowna Accord”
Refers to external commitments without incorporating or defining them in the statute.
Clear-cut
“At the end of the fiscal year beginning on April 1, 2007, and at the end of each of the next four fiscal years”
Sets fixed calendar dates and a five-year span for reports.“within sixty days after the end of the fiscal year or, if that House is not then sitting, on any of the first fifteen days next thereafter”
Provides exact timelines and fallback sitting days for tabling reports.
Discretion. Ministers retain wide discretion to decide what constitutes 'all measures necessary' and whether progress satisfies the accord's terms, with no regulatory constraints specified.
Challenging the law itself. The open-ended duty could be challenged for vagueness under section 7 of the Charter as it fails to set clear standards for compliance.
Disputing a charge under it. A claim that the government breached the duty could be disputed by arguing that chosen measures satisfied the undefined 'terms' of the external accord.
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?
The evidence has not been searched yet.
Who lobbied on it
No lobbying registration naming this bill is loaded.
Stages and dates from LEGISinfo.