Bill C-17 · 40th Parliament · Stephen Harper
National Cemetery of Canada Act
An Act to recognize Beechwood Cemetery as the national cemetery of Canada
Government bill. Became law.
- IntroducedMarch 5, 2009
- Debated in principleMarch 6, 2009
- Studied by a committeeDone
- Passed its first chamberMarch 6, 2009
- Passed the second chamberApril 1, 2009
- Became lawApril 23, 2009
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
- Gerald J. Comeau (Deputy Leader of the Government)Senate · Sponsor in the Senate
- Jim MunsonSenate · SenatorPraises the bill as a non-partisan honour to Canadian history and diversity, hoping for quick passage.
- Lorna MilneSenate · SenatorCalls the project wonderful and applauds the idea of a national cemetery at Beechwood.
- Mark WarawaSpeaker speaks on behalf of the government in support of the bill.
- Royal GalipeauSpeaker praises the bill as an opportunity for members to work together on history.
- Paul DewarSpeaker praises the bill and its recognition of the cemetery as a national symbol.
- Jim PrenticeSpeaker introduces the bill and calls it historic.
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.
What it set out to do
The Library of Parliament does not prepare Legislative Summaries for self-explanatory measures. The following is a short summary: On 5 March 2009, the Minister of the Environment introduced Bill C-17, An Act to recognize Beechwood Cemetery as the national cemetery of Canada in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. The bill grants Beechwood Cemetery honorary recognition as the national cemetery of Canada.
Summary by the Library of Parliament.
Where members stand
How it changed on the way
57% of the text as introduced was changed or removed by the time it became law (442 words introduced, 425 passed).
substantial changeintent mostly kept
The bill received only formal updates between introduction and royal assent, including the addition of chapter and assent details. Substantive recognition of Beechwood Cemetery remained unchanged.
- Header changed from bill introduction details to statutes chapter and assent date.
Before: “C-17 Second Session, Fortieth Parliament, 57-58 Elizabeth II, 2009 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-17 An Act to recognize Beechwood Cemetery as the national cemetery of Canada FIRST READING, MARCH 5, 2009 MINISTER OF THE ENVIRONMENT”
After: “Second Session, Fortieth Parliament, 57-58 Elizabeth II, 2009 STATUTES OF CANADA 2009 CHAPTER 5 An Act to recognize Beechwood Cemetery as the national cemetery of Canada ASSENTED TO 23rd APRIL, 2009”
- Preamble removed line numbers before each Whereas clause.
Before: “Whereas Beechwood Cemetery is a national place of tribute;”
After: “Whereas Beechwood Cemetery is a national place of tribute;”
How precisely it is written
preciseChallenging the law: HardDisputing a charge: Hard
The Act does little more than declare honorary status for a precisely described parcel of land. Operative text uses fixed boundaries and a single declarative sentence with no standards or discretion.
Open to argument
“a worthy final resting place”
Subjective judgment about who deserves burial there invites argument over application.“a symbol of national gratitude, pride and unity”
Abstract purpose statement lacks objective criteria for enforcement or interpretation.
Clear-cut
“Beechwood Cemetery is given honorary recognition as the national cemetery of Canada.”
Direct, unqualified legal effect with no conditions or qualifiers.“Part of Lot 3, Concession Junction Gore, Part of Lot 2, Concession Junction Gore, Part of Block 23, Plan 92, Part of Blocks 15A and Btn Rds, Plan 92, Ottawa and Vanier.”
Exact metes-and-bounds description under Ontario registry system eliminates boundary disputes.
Discretion. No authority is delegated to any minister, official or regulation-making body; the statute creates only the stated recognition.
Challenging the law itself. The Act confers only honorary status and engages no Charter rights or coercive powers that could ground a vagueness or overbreadth claim.
Disputing a charge under it. The statute imposes no duties or prohibitions, so no person can be accused of breaching it.
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.