Bill C-14 · 43th Parliament · Justin Trudeau
Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2020
An Act to implement certain provisions of the economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 30, 2020 and other measures
Government bill. Became law.
- IntroducedDec. 2, 2020
- Debated in principleMarch 8, 2021
- Studied by a committeeDone
- Passed its first chamberApril 15, 2021
- Passed the second chamberMay 4, 2021
- Became lawMay 5, 2021
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.
What it set out to do
On 2 December 2020, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance introduced Bill C-14, An Act to implement certain provisions of the economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 30, 2020 and other measures (Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2020), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Part 1 amends the Income Tax Act to provide additional support to families with young children as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic progresses. It also amends the Children’s Special Allowances Act to provide a similar benefit in respect of young children under that Act. As part of the Government’s response to COVID-19, it amends the Income Tax Act to provide that an expense can qualify as a qualifying rent expense for the purposes of the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) when it becomes due rather than when it is paid, provided certain conditions are met. Part 2 amends the Canada Student Loans Act to provide that, during the period that begins on April 1, 2021 and ends on March 31, 2022, no interest is payable by a borrower on a guaranteed student loan and no amount on account of interest is required to be paid by the borrower. Part 3 amends the Can…
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
5% of the text as introduced was changed or removed by the time it became law (2,570 words introduced, 2,618 passed).
minor changeintent kept
The bill received only procedural updates such as a royal recommendation and regnal-year adjustments before royal assent. Core measures on child benefits, rent-subsidy timing, and interest-free student and apprentice loans stayed intact.
- Added Governor General's recommendation for appropriation of public revenue.
After: “RECOMMENDATION Her Excellency the Governor General recommends to the House of Commons the appropriation of public revenue under the circumstances, in the manner and for the purposes set out in a measure entitled " An Act to implement certain provisions of the economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 30, 2020 and other measures ".”
How precisely it is written
mixedChallenging the law: ModerateDisputing a charge: Hard
The bill uses exact dollar limits, fixed dates and formulas for payments and benefits, but grants the Governor in Council open-ended power to make any regulations it considers necessary to address shortages. This mix leaves some provisions clear while others rest on subjective judgment.
Open to argument
“the Governor in Council may make any regulations that the Governor in Council considers necessary for the purpose of preventing shortages of therapeutic products in Canada or alleviating those shortages or their effects, in order to protect human health.”
The phrase 'considers necessary' and the broad purpose clause create a subjective and wide grant of regulatory power.
Clear-cut
“the total of the following amounts must not at any time exceed $1,831,000,000,000”
A hard numerical ceiling is stated without qualifiers.“During the period that begins on April 1, 2021 and ends on March 31, 2022, (a) no interest is payable by a borrower on a guaranteed student loan;”
Specific calendar dates and a clear prohibition remove interpretive room.
Discretion. Substantial discretion is left to the Governor in Council to decide what regulations are 'necessary' for shortage prevention and to the Minister of Health to requisition unspecified sums for listed health initiatives.
Challenging the law itself. The open-ended regulation-making clause could be attacked under the Charter doctrines of vagueness or overbreadth, particularly if it affects section 7 interests in health or liberty.
Disputing a charge under it. Most operative rules set fixed dollar caps, exact dates and arithmetic formulas, so disputes would centre on factual compliance rather than interpretive arguments.
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.