Bill S-9 · 44th Parliament · Justin Trudeau
An Act to amend the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act
Government bill. Became law.
- IntroducedJune 1, 2022
- Debated in principleJune 14, 2022
- Studied by a committeeDone
- Passed its first chamberJune 21, 2022
- Passed the second chamberJune 19, 2024
- Became lawJune 20, 2024
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 bills that implement treaties, conventions, agreements or administrative arrangements bills. The following is a short summary: On 2 June 2022, Sen. Marc Gold introduced Bill S-9, An Act to amend the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act and it was given first reading. Bill S-9 amends the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act by deleting the schedule to that Act and the references to that schedule in that Act, in order to avoid potential discrepancies between the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, as amended from time to time, and the portions of that Convention that are reproduced in that schedule.
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
73% of the text as introduced was changed or removed by the time it became law (331 words introduced, 227 passed).
minor changeintent kept
The bill retained its original purpose of deleting the schedule and related references from the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act. The only notable updates were formal adjustments to the monarch reference and session dates after the change in sovereign.
- Updated the enacting clause to reflect the new monarch.
Before: “Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:”
After: “His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:”
- Revised the parliamentary session years in the header.
Before: “44 70-71 Elizabeth II 2021-2022”
After: “44 70-71 Elizabeth II – 1-2 Charles III 2021-2022-2023-2024”
How precisely it is written
preciseChallenging the law: HardDisputing a charge: Hard
The bill uses a fixed date, a specific article reference, and direct repeal language to update the definition of the Convention and remove the schedule. This creates a clear, objective link to the external treaty without subjective tests or open discretion.
Clear-cut
“signed at Paris, France on January 13, 1993, as amended from time to time pursuant to Article XV of the Convention”
Pins the source document to an exact date and amendment mechanism, eliminating ambiguity about which version applies.“The schedule to the Act is repealed.”
Uses direct, unqualified repeal language that leaves no interpretive room about what remains in force.
Discretion. No discretionary power is granted to ministers, officials, or regulations; the changes are self-executing.
Challenging the law itself. The amendment is narrowly technical and incorporates an existing treaty by reference, engaging no obvious Charter rights and presenting minimal vagueness or overbreadth grounds.
Disputing a charge under it. Because the provisions are purely definitional and repeal-based, a person would have little room to argue that the updated Convention definition does not apply to their conduct.
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.