Bill S-207 · 39th Parliament · Stephen Harper
Statutes Repeal Act
An Act to repeal legislation that has not come into force within ten years of receiving royal assent
Senate bill. Became law.
- IntroducedOct. 16, 2007
- Debated in principleNov. 27, 2007
- Studied by a committeeDone
- Passed its first chamberDec. 10, 2007
- Passed the second chamberJune 3, 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.
- Tommy BanksSenate · Sponsor in the Senate
- Paul Szabo6 interventions in debateMoved third reading and explained the bill's mechanism positively.
- Larry Bagnell2 interventions in debateCommended the sponsor and highlighted positive aspects of the 10-year period.
- Lee Richardson2 interventions in debatePraised the bill and its sponsor while noting broad support.
- Hugh SegalSenate · SenatorHe supports the bill and will work to move it through expeditiously.
- Patrick BrownCongratulated the sponsor and agreed with the bill's objective.
- Norman DoyleStated the government's support for the bill's objective.
- The SpeakerSpeaker allows bill to advance by deeming it read a second time.
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
How it changed on the way
46% of the text as introduced was changed or removed by the time it became law (611 words introduced, 588 passed).
minor changeintent kept
The bill passed with only minor adjustments to headers, assent details, and publication references. Core provisions on the annual report and automatic repeal stayed identical.
- Header added assent date and bill number.
Before: “Second Session, Thirty-ninth Parliament, An Act to repeal legislation that has not come into force within ten years of receiving royal assent This enactment provides”
After: “Second Session, Thirty-ninth Parliament, An Act to repeal legislation that has not come into force within ten years of receiving royal assent ASSENTED TO 18th JUNE, 2008 BILL S-207 This enactment provides”
- Availability statement updated to new web address and publisher details.
Before: “All parliamentary publications are available on the Parliamentary Internet Parlementaire at the following address:”
After: “Also available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address:”
How precisely it is written
mostly preciseChallenging the law: HardDisputing a charge: Hard
The Act uses fixed nine-year periods, December 31 dates, and mandatory report-and-repeal steps that leave little room for argument over timing. A few phrases still require judgment calls on what counts as necessary or on whether a resolution blocks repeal.
Open to argument
“necessary for the amended provision to have effect”
This requires subjective assessment of which related provisions must stay alive.
Clear-cut
“repealed on December 31 of the year in which the report is laid”
A single calendar date removes any dispute about when repeal occurs.
Discretion. The Minister must list every qualifying Act or provision using objective assent and force dates, but each House may still pass a resolution to spare any item.
Challenging the law itself. The Act creates only procedural duties for the Minister and Parliament and does not impose vague criminal or regulatory standards that could be attacked under Charter vagueness doctrine.
Disputing a charge under it. The statute triggers automatic repeal of other laws rather than creating offences that individuals could be accused of breaching, so disputes centre on statutory interpretation rather than factual violation.
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.