Bill C-33 · 39th Parliament · Stephen Harper
An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
Government bill. Became law.
- IntroducedDec. 3, 2007
- Debated in principleFeb. 1, 2008
- Studied by a committeeDone
- Passed its first chamberMay 28, 2008
- Passed the second chamberJune 25, 2008
- Became lawJune 26, 2008
Leading supporters
Ranked by the part each played: who is responsible for the bill, who carried it, and who spoke for it most.
- Stephen HarperPrime Minister
- Bert BrownSenate · Sponsor in the Senate
- Wayne EasterExplicitly offers support for the bill while rejecting the amendment.
- Gerry Ritzmoved third reading and spoke positively about passing the bill despite controversy.
- David McGuintytreats the bill as a technical amendment and supported allowing it to proceed
- Guy Lauzonbacks Bill C-33 as enabling regulations for renewable content and putting farmers first.
- James Bezansays all parties can support the policy and it needed to move forward after committee review.
- Joe ComartinExplicitly states the NDP will support the bill despite the amendment.
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
That Bill C-33 · 2008-05-01 · Failed
How it changed on the way
75% of the text as introduced was changed or removed by the time it became law (1,294 words introduced, 1,037 passed). A committee amended it.
substantial changeintent broadened
The bill kept its core fuel-regulation amendments but added a new parliamentary review process for the environmental and economic aspects of biofuel production. Minor wording shifts also expanded export reporting and regulatory distinctions.
- Added requirement for the committee to report recommendations to Parliament.
After: “(7) The committee referred to in subsection (6) should, within one year after a review is undertaken pursuant to that subsection, submit a report on the review to Parliament, including a statement of any recommendations that the committee makes in respect of biofuel produc”
- Expanded export reporting to include imported fuel.
Before: “(k) the submission of reports on the quantity of fuel produced or sold for export.”
After: “(k) the submission of reports on the quantity of fuel produced, imported or sold for export.”
How precisely it is written
mixedChallenging the law: HardDisputing a charge: Moderate
The bill sets some objective thresholds and evidence rules for fuel exceptions but delegates wide regulation-making power to the Governor in Council. Review provisions use non-binding language and leave many details undefined.
Open to argument
“a comprehensive review of the environmental and economic aspects of biofuel production in Canada should be undertaken”
Uses 'should' instead of 'shall', creating no enforceable duty and inviting argument over timing and scope.“make regulations for carrying out the purposes of section 139”
Broad purpose-based grant allows subjective interpretation of what regulations are needed.
Clear-cut
“quantities of less than 400 m3 per year”
Numeric threshold supplies a clear, measurable cutoff for exemptions.“there is written evidence establishing that the fuel is in transit”
Requires specific documentary proof rather than a subjective belief or likelihood test.
Discretion. Most operational rules on blending, records, reports, and exemptions are left to regulations made by the Governor in Council on the Minister's recommendation.
Challenging the law itself. The provisions contain measurable thresholds and delegate standard regulatory powers, making a successful vagueness or overbreadth claim under s. 7 of the Charter unlikely.
Disputing a charge under it. Accused persons can point to the written-evidence exceptions and the 400 m3 threshold, but must still navigate the wide regulation-making authority that may alter those rules.
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.