Bill C-12 · 43th Parliament · Justin Trudeau
An Act to amend the Financial Administration Act (special warrant)
Government bill. Became law.
- IntroducedMarch 13, 2020
- Debated in principleMarch 13, 2020
- Studied by a committeeDone
- Passed its first chamberMarch 13, 2020
- Passed the second chamberMarch 13, 2020
- Became lawMarch 13, 2020
Leading supporters
Ranked by the part each played: who is responsible for the bill, who carried it, and who spoke for it most.
- Justin TrudeauPrime Minister
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
Votes and debate for this bill have not been read yet.
How it changed on the way
The texts have not been compared yet.
How precisely it is written
mixedChallenging the law: ModerateDisputing a charge: Hard
The drafting sets exact calendar deadlines and mandatory distribution steps but relies on the subjective phrase 'urgently required for the public good' to trigger the power. This mix creates clear procedural rules alongside open-ended substantive discretion.
Open to argument
“urgently required for the public good”
The phrase imposes a subjective judgment rather than an objective, verifiable test.“for the public good”
The term is undefined and invites prolonged debate over its scope.
Clear-cut
“within seven days after it is issued”
Fixed time limit leaves no room for argument about when publication must occur.“60 days following the date fixed for the return of the writs”
Specific date-based window is mechanically verifiable.
Discretion. The President of the Treasury Board and the appropriate Minister must form opinions on the absence of an appropriation and the urgency for the public good before the Governor in Council may act, leaving those threshold judgments largely to executive discretion.
Challenging the law itself. The undefined 'public good' standard could be attacked as vague or overbroad under the Charter doctrines, most plausibly engaging section 7 if liberty or security interests are implicated by unauthorized spending.
Disputing a charge under it. The provisions authorize government spending rather than imposing duties on private persons, so disputes centre on whether the executive met the statutory preconditions rather than on proving an individual's breach.
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.