Bill C-3 · 40th Parliament · Stephen Harper
An Act to amend the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act
Government bill. Became law.
- IntroducedJan. 28, 2009
- Debated in principleFeb. 25, 2009
- Studied by a committeeDone
- Passed its first chamberMay 4, 2009
- Passed the second chamberJune 1, 2009
- Became lawJune 11, 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
- Hector Daniel LangSenate · Sponsor in the Senate
- Dennis Bevingtonstates NDP came out in support at second reading and continues to support after committee
- Don Daviesstates the bill is consistent with NDP position and expands needed protections
- John BairdHe introduces and praises the bill as an important step for Arctic protection.
- Hon. Joseph Volpesees no difficulty studying or supporting the bill.
- Larry Bagnellstates Liberals will be supporting this bill as modernization of prior Liberal legislation
- Lawrence Cannonmoves that the bill be read a third time and passed.
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
On 3 December 2008, Bill C-3, An Act to amend Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act was introduced and read a first time in the House of Commons. Bill C-3 amends the definition of “arctic waters” in the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act to extend the geographic application of the Act to the outer limit of the exclusive economic zone of Canada north of the 60th parallel of north latitude.
Summary by the Library of Parliament.
Where members stand
How it changed on the way
77% of the text as introduced was changed or removed by the time it became law (455 words introduced, 330 passed).
minor changeintent kept
The bill passed without amendment. The new definition of arctic waters matched the introduced text exactly at royal assent.
How precisely it is written
mostly preciseChallenging the law: HardDisputing a charge: Hard
The amendment replaces the definition of arctic waters with fixed geographic coordinates and established maritime zones, creating clear boundaries. Only the coming-into-force clause introduces discretion.
Open to argument
“This Act comes into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.”
This leaves the start date entirely to executive choice without any objective trigger or deadline.
Clear-cut
“within the area enclosed by the 60th parallel of north latitude, the 141st meridian of west longitude and the outer limit of the exclusive economic zone”
Uses specific latitude, longitude and recognized legal maritime limits that can be plotted on a map without further interpretation.“where the international boundary between Canada and Greenland is less than 200 nautical miles from the baselines of the territorial sea of Canada, the international boundary shall be substituted for that outer limit”
Provides an objective rule that automatically adjusts the limit by reference to a known international boundary.
Discretion. The only significant discretion is the Governor in Council's power to choose the commencement date by order.
Challenging the law itself. The definition relies on objective geographic and legal boundaries with no subjective standards, so a vagueness or overbreadth challenge under section 7 of the Charter would face high hurdles.
Disputing a charge under it. A person accused of an offence could readily verify location against fixed coordinates and maritime zones, leaving little room to dispute coverage.
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.