Bill C-23 · 41th Parliament · Stephen Harper
Canada–Jordan Economic Growth and Prosperity Act
An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Government bill. Became law.
- IntroducedNov. 15, 2011
- Debated in principleMarch 5, 2012
- Studied by a committeeDone
- Passed its first chamberJune 11, 2012
- Passed the second chamberJune 28, 2012
- Became lawJune 28, 2012
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
- Pierre Claude NolinSenate · Sponsor in the Senate
- Gerald KeddyPresents the bill as advancing Canadian jobs, market access and economic security without objections.
- Devinder ShoryCalls the agreements a positive step that will open markets and strengthen ties with Jordan.
- Chris WarkentinArgues the bill advances trade opportunities, jobs and prosperity and should move forward.
- Rodger CuznerStates trade agreements help both countries despite imperfections.
- Shelly GloverDefends the government's trade agenda and faults NDP for failing to support any free-trade deals.
- Colin CarriePresses Liberals to confirm support for the free trade agreement rather than managed trade or protections.
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 bills that implement treaties, conventions, agreements or administrative arrangements bills. The following is a short summary: On 15 November 2011, the Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway introduced Bill C-23, An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (Canada-Jordan Economic Growth and Prosperity Act), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-23 implements a free trade agreement between Canada and Jordan that was signed in June 2009. Among other things, it: • eliminates tariffs on over 99 percent of recent Canadian exports (by value) to Jordan. • eliminates all non-agricultural tariffs, numerous agricultural tariffs and tariffs on many Canadian exports, including pulse crops, frozen french fries, animal feed, various prepared foods, certain forestry products and machinery. • eliminates all tariffs on Jordanian goods, with the exc…
Summary by the Library of Parliament.
Where members stand
That this question be now put. · 2012-03-05 · Passed
How it changed on the way
69% of the text as introduced was changed or removed by the time it became law (10,932 words introduced, 8,703 passed).
substantial changeintent mostly kept
The bill passed with mostly the same core provisions on tariff elimination and labour-environment commitments, but 69% of the introduced text was altered through corrections, added procedural clauses, and updated formatting. Key additions addressed tribunal report publication and new complaint-handling rules for domestic producers.
- Added requirement for the Tribunal to publish notice of report submission.
After: “The Tribunal shall cause notice of the submission of a report to be published in the Canada Gazette.”
How precisely it is written
mixedChallenging the law: HardDisputing a charge: Moderate
The bill mixes exact definitions, fixed dates, article references and numerical rounding rules with subjective phrases such as 'appropriate share' and 'considers necessary'. Broad order-making powers and consent requirements for lawsuits leave significant room for argument over scope and application.
Open to argument
“The Government of Canada shall pay its appropriate share of the aggregate of any expenditures incurred by or on behalf of the Joint Commission.”
The term 'appropriate share' supplies no objective formula or fixed amount.“and (d) take any other measure that the Governor in Council considers necessary.”
The phrase 'considers necessary' is a subjective standard that invites debate over what qualifies.“If a reduction under subsection (3) results in a specific rate of customs duty that includes a fraction of one tenth of a cent, the rate shall be rounded down to the nearest one tenth of a cent.”
While numerical, the rounding rule still depends on prior discretionary tariff adjustments.
Clear-cut
“"Agreement" means the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, signed on June 28, 2009.”
The definition pins the agreement to a single, dated document.“In this section, "principal cause" means, in respect of a serious injury or threat of a serious injury, an important cause that is no less important than any other cause of the serious injury or threat.”
The definition supplies an objective comparative test rather than an open-ended standard.
Discretion. Ministers may appoint panelists and representatives, the Governor in Council may issue orders suspending rights or modifying federal laws for any period it specifies, and the Attorney General controls access to any cause of action under the Act or agreements.
Challenging the law itself. Section 8 bars proceedings without Attorney General consent and the Act implements an international agreement, limiting viable Charter vagueness or overbreadth claims.
Disputing a charge under it. Customs-duty and tariff provisions contain clear numerical tests, yet the broad order-making powers and 'appropriate share' language allow factual disputes over what conduct actually breaches the Act.
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.