Bill C-321 · 41th Parliament · Stephen Harper
An Act to amend the Canada Post Corporation Act (library materials)
Private member’s bill. Became law.
- IntroducedOct. 4, 2011
- Debated in principleJune 4, 2012
- Studied by a committeeDone
- Passed its first chamberOct. 24, 2012
- Passed the second chamberApril 24, 2013
- Became lawJune 18, 2013
Leading supporters
Ranked by the part each played: who is responsible for the bill, who carried it, and who spoke for it most.
- Donald Neil PlettSenate · Sponsor in the Senate
- Merv Tweed2 interventions in debateAs sponsor he introduces the bill and seeks support to pass it.
- Senator PlettSenate · SenatorIntroduced the bill to guarantee a reduced postal rate for library materials including expanded definitions for CDs and DVDs, supporting literacy and access for rural and urban libraries.
- Senator MercerSenate · SenatorEndorses the bill for aiding rural and Atlantic Canada access to library collections and recognizes Canada Post's role despite revenue loss.
- Guy CaronNDP will gladly support this bill
- Denis CoderreHe states that the Liberal Party of Canada is very pleased to support the bill.
- Robert Aubinstrongly in favour and renews support for the bill
- Blaine Calkinsdescribes the bill as critical and vital
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
That Bill C-321 · 2012-10-03 · Passed
How it changed on the way
78% of the text as introduced was changed or removed by the time it became law (447 words introduced, 395 passed).
minor changeintent kept
The bill passed with its core provisions on the library book rate and periodic reviews unchanged. Only titles, dates, and publication details were updated for royal assent.
How precisely it is written
mixedChallenging the law: HardDisputing a charge: Hard
The bill supplies a mostly concrete list of items in the definition and fixed numerical timelines for reviews, but leaves the outer boundary of 'similar' materials and the actual reduced rate to later decisions. This mix of objective anchors and open discretion produces moderate room for argument over coverage.
Open to argument
“and other similar library materials”
The qualifier 'similar' introduces an undefined resemblance test that requires subjective judgment about what counts as library material.“with the approval of the Governor in Council”
The phrase grants broad discretion to the executive to decide whether and on what terms any reduced rate will continue.
Clear-cut
“Five years after this Act comes into force, and every ten years thereafter”
Exact calendar triggers and intervals remove debate about when the review obligation arises.“Within one year after the review is undertaken”
A fixed deadline for the ministerial report supplies an objective compliance measure.
Discretion. The Governor in Council decides whether to approve any agreement continuing the reduced rate and thereby controls both the existence and the detailed terms of the benefit.
Challenging the law itself. The provisions confer benefits rather than impose restrictions and contain no obvious vagueness that would engage section 7 liberty or section 2(b) expression interests under the Charter.
Disputing a charge under it. The text creates no offence or prohibition; disputes would centre on eligibility for a postal rate rather than on proving breach of a duty.
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.