Bill C-10 · 44th Parliament · Justin Trudeau
An Act respecting certain measures related to COVID-19
Government bill. Became law.
- IntroducedJan. 31, 2022
- Debated in principleFeb. 15, 2022
- Studied by a committeeDone
- Passed its first chamberFeb. 15, 2022
- Passed the second chamberMarch 4, 2022
- Became lawMarch 4, 2022
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
The Library of Parliament does not prepare Legislative Summaries for self-explanatory measures. The following is a short summary: On 31 January, the Minister of Health introduced Bill C-10, An Act respecting certain measures related to COVID-19 and it was given first reading. Bill C-10 authorizes the Minister of Health to make payments of up to $2.5 billion out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund in relation to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tests. It also authorizes that Minister to transfer COVID-19 tests and instruments used in relation to those tests to the provinces and territories and to bodies and persons in Canada.
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
33% of the text as introduced was changed or removed by the time it became law (256 words introduced, 255 passed).
minor changeintent kept
The bill's core provisions authorizing up to $2.5 billion in payments and transfers of COVID-19 tests remained unchanged. Only formal dates and recommendation wording were updated between introduction and royal assent.
- Updated the date reference and added assent information in the recommendation section.
Before: “2022 1 31 MINISTER OF HEALTH 91072 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 respecting certain measures related to COVID-19 ".”
After: “2022 3 4 2 2022 91072 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 respecting certain measures related to COVID-19 ".”
How precisely it is written
preciseChallenging the law: HardDisputing a charge: Hard
The bill sets exact dollar limits, specific dates, and narrow powers for the Minister of Health to spend on and transfer COVID-19 tests. It relies on objective criteria and defined actions without subjective standards.
Clear-cut
“the total of which may not exceed $2.5 billion”
Fixes a hard numerical ceiling on total payments.“on or after January 1, 2022”
Uses a precise calendar date as an objective start point for eligible expenses.“acquired by Her Majesty in right of Canada on or after April 1, 2021”
Applies a clear date threshold to the items that may be transferred.
Discretion. The Minister of Health decides which qualifying expenses to pay and which tests or instruments to transfer, but only within the fixed total amount and date limits.
Challenging the law itself. The text creates narrow spending and transfer authority unlikely to support a successful vagueness or overbreadth challenge under the Charter.
Disputing a charge under it. The provisions authorize government actions rather than imposing prohibitions on private persons, leaving almost no scope to dispute a violation.
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.