Bill C-40 · 40th Parliament · Stephen Harper
Celebrating Canada's Seniors Act
An Act to establish National Seniors Day
Government bill. Became law.
- IntroducedJune 16, 2010
- Debated in principleJune 17, 2010
- Studied by a committeeDone
- Passed its first chamberJune 17, 2010
- Passed the second chamberOct. 25, 2010
- Became lawNov. 17, 2010
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
- Marjory LeBreton (Leader of the Government)Senate · Sponsor in the Senate
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 June 16 2010, the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development introduced Bill C-40, An Act to establish National Seniors Day, in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. The bill designates October 1 as National Seniors Day to acknowledge the contribution of seniors to Canadian society and to the Canadian economy. National Seniors Day is not a holiday or a non-juridical day.
Summary by the Library of Parliament.
Where members stand
Votes and debate for this bill have not been read yet.
How it changed on the way
47% of the text as introduced was changed or removed by the time it became law (289 words introduced, 273 passed).
minor changeintent kept
The bill passed with only formal updates to reflect royal assent and chapter numbering. The core designation of October 1 as National Seniors Day remained unchanged.
How precisely it is written
preciseChallenging the law: HardDisputing a charge: Hard
The Act fixes one specific date each year as National Seniors Day and states it creates no legal holiday. Operative text uses only objective calendar language and a clarifying negative.
Clear-cut
“Throughout Canada, in each year, October 1 is to be known as National Seniors Day.”
Names an exact recurring date and nationwide scope with no qualifiers.“For greater certainty, National Seniors Day is not a holiday or a non-juridical day.”
Removes ambiguity by explicit negative statement rather than leaving status open.
Discretion. No authority is delegated to ministers, officials or regulations; the designation is complete on the face of the statute.
Challenging the law itself. The enactment imposes no duties or limits on conduct and therefore engages no Charter rights that could support a vagueness or overbreadth claim.
Disputing a charge under it. No conduct is prohibited, so no factual dispute over breach can arise.
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.