Bill C-5 · 43th Parliament · Justin Trudeau
An Act to amend the Bills of Exchange Act, the Interpretation Act and the Canada Labour Code (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation)
Government bill. Became law.
- IntroducedSept. 29, 2020
- Debated in principleNov. 2, 2020
- Studied by a committeeDone
- Passed its first chamberMay 28, 2021
- Passed the second chamberJune 2, 2021
- Became lawJune 2, 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 29 September 2020, the Minister of Canadian Heritage introduced Bill C-5, An Act to amend the Bills of Exchange Act, the Interpretation Act and the Canada Labour Code (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-5 amends certain Acts to add a new holiday, namely, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is observed on September 30.
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
63% of the text as introduced was changed or removed by the time it became law (867 words introduced, 596 passed).
substantial changeintent mostly kept
The bill kept its core purpose of creating a new statutory holiday on September 30 but saw 63 percent of its text altered through refined insertions into holiday lists and updated session dates. Minor wording and punctuation adjustments were made to the Canada Labour Code and Interpretation Act provisions during passage.
- Inserted the new holiday into the Bills of Exchange Act list with adjusted punctuation.
Before: “Labour Day, Remembrance Day and Christmas Day,”
After: “Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is observed on September 30, Remembrance Day”
- Added the holiday to the Interpretation Act definition of general holiday.
Before: “Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day”
After: “Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is observed on September 30, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day”
- Updated the Canada Labour Code alternative-day rule to include the new holiday.
Before: “when New Year's Day, Canada Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day or Boxing Day”
After: “when New Year's Day, Canada Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day or Boxing Day”
How precisely it is written
preciseChallenging the law: HardDisputing a charge: Hard
The bill adds one fixed-date holiday to existing statutory lists with exact calendar language and mechanical coming-into-force rules. No subjective standards or discretionary powers appear in the operative text.
Clear-cut
“National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is observed on September 30”
Repeats the identical fixed date in every amended definition, eliminating any interpretive range.“This Act comes into force on the day that, in the second month after the month in which it receives royal assent, has the same calendar number as the day on which it receives royal assent”
Supplies an objective, self-executing formula that requires no ministerial order or further decision.
Discretion. No power is delegated to ministers, officials or regulations; the amendments are self-contained.
Challenging the law itself. The provisions merely insert a named day into holiday lists and engage no obvious Charter right or vagueness doctrine.
Disputing a charge under it. Whether a given date is a holiday is settled by the explicit September 30 reference and the listed substitution rules.
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.