It was a busy month in Parliament before the holiday season.
The first session of the 44th Parliament began on Nov. 22. The House was adjourned on Dec. 17, for the winter break.
Here is a breakdown of what happened during that time:
There were 69 bills presented to the House. Of those bills, four received royal assent before the break.
Bill C-2: An act to provide further support in response to COVID, received royal assent on Dec. 17.
The bill will give targeted COVID support where it is needed to create jobs and growth while managing government spending, according to a Nov. 24 press release from the Department of Finance. There are four parts to the bill, which include extending the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS); the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS); and the Canada Recovery Hiring Program until May 7, 2022; along with helping those in lockdown regions receive the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit.
Bill C-3: An act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code, received royal assent on Dec. 17.
The bill will make it an offence to intimidate a person to impede them from obtaining health services. It also makes it an offence to obstruct a person’s access to a place where health services are provided.
A Nov. 26 press release from Employment and Social Development Canada said the bill would amend the Criminal Code to enhance protections for health-care workers. People who use fear to stop a health-care worker from performing their duties could be charged and, if found guilty, be subject to a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
The bill will also provide 10 days of paid sick leave per year to workers in the federally regulated private sector.
Bill C-4: An act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy) received royal assent on Dec. 8.
The bill makes it an offence to cause another person to undergo conversion therapy; profit from conversion therapy; or advertise and promote conversion therapy. The bill also makes it an offence to remove a minor from Canada and subject them to conversion therapy in another country.
Bill C-6: An act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, received royal assent on Dec. 17.
The president of the Treasury Board introduced the bill on Dec 9, which authorizes payments for certain expenses of the public service of Canada.
A session summary from the Parliament of Canada website states there are 338 members in office, 18 votes were recorded, 115 petitions were presented, and four committee reports were also presented. The most discussed topic in the House was the pandemic, COVID-19, and supplementary estimates (B) 2021-2022.
Parliament resumes on Jan. 31.
