Federal red tape reduction

Division 1 of Part 1 amends the Agricultural Products Marketing Act to, among other things, (a) provide that powers are delegated to a marketing board in relation to the marketing of an agricultural product in interprovincial or export trade by virtue of being named in the schedule to that Act, rather than by Order in Council; (b) provide that the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food is responsible for the delegation of those powers; (c) delegate powers in relation to the marketing of agricultural products to administrative bodies; (d) provide for limitations and exceptions that were previously set out in orders and regulations made under that Act with respect to the exercise of the delegated powers; and (e) require marketing boards and administrative bodies to make accessible to the persons with respect to which they exercise their delegated powers the requirements or other measures they establish in the exercise of those powers.

It also repeals certain orders and regulations. Division 2 of Part 1 amends the Canadian Dairy Commission Act to remove the age limit respecting the retirement of members of the Canadian Dairy Commission. It also amends the Farm Products Agencies Act to remove the age limit respecting the appointment and holding of office of members of the National Farm Products Council or of an agency. Division 3 of Part 1 amends the Feeds Act , the Fertilizers Act , the Seeds Act and the Health of Animals Act to authorize the Governor in Council to make regulations respecting the recognition of foreign systems relating to feeds, fertilizers, supplements, seeds or veterinary biologics. Division 4 of Part 1 amends the Seeds Act to (a) transfer the power to specify the kinds of plants whose seeds are to be considered weed seeds from the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to the Governor in Council; and (b) authorize the Governor in Council to make regulations respecting weed seeds. Division 5 of Part 1 amends the Health of Animals Act to (a) authorize the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to approve programs developed by entities other than the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for certain specified purposes and authorize the Governor in Council to make regulations respecting such programs; and (b) clarify the scope of the Governor in Council’s power to make regulations relating to the management of garbage that is imported into Canada. Division 6 of Part 1 amends the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act to, among other things, (a) authorize the use of electronic means to administer and enforce that Act and any Act or provision that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is responsible for administering or enforcing; and (b) simplify that Agency’s reporting requirements. Division 7 of Part 1 amends the Agricultural Marketing Programs Act to, among other things, (a) remove the requirement for the Minister of Finance to approve changes to advance limits under the Advance Payments Program; (b) reduce the administrative burden associated with obtaining first-ranking security for advances issued under that program and with the proof of sale requirement for payments made under that program; and (c) repeal the provisions respecting the administrator’s percentage under that program. It also makes a consequential amendment to the Agricultural Marketing Programs Regulations . Division 1 of Part 2 amends the Department of the Environment Act to authorize the use of electronic means to administer and enforce any Act of Parliament that is administered or enforced by the Minister of the Environment or by an agency for which the Minister is responsible. Division 2 of Part 2 amends the Explosives Act to provide for an administrative monetary penalties scheme. Division 3 of Part 2 amends the Fisheries Act to permit the relocation of fish when carrying on any maintenance, repair or modification of a fishway, obstruction or leap. Division 4 of Part 2 repeals subsection 21(6) of the Northern Pipeline Act . Division 5 of Part 2 amends the Canada–Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation and Offshore Renewable Energy Management Act and the Canada–Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation and Offshore Renewable Energy Management Act to, among other things, update the terminology in respect of hazardous products in the workplace to ensure alignment and consistency with the Hazardous Products Act . Division 6 of Part 2 amends the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act to, among other things, (a) clarify that the prohibitions in subsection 6(1) and section 7 of that Act are subject to the regulations; and (b) remove the requirement for the Governor in Council to make and update regulations specifying the animals and plants that are listed as “fauna” and “flora”, respectively, in an appendix to the Convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora. Division 7 of Part 2 amends the Canada Lands Surveyors Act to, among other things, (a) enhance the protection of the public by modernizing the complaints and discipline processes that govern Canada Lands Surveyors; (b) reduce the regulatory burden of the Minister of Natural Resources by enabling the Council of the Association of Canada Lands Surveyors to make by-laws respecting a broader range of matters; (c) harmonize the French and English versions of that Act for consistency and clarity by, among other things, ensuring uniformity between both language versions in relation to the definitions of “licence” and “permit” and by addressing certain recommendations of the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations; and (d) harmonize the text of that Act with the private law of the provinces and territories, being the civil law regime of the Province of Quebec and the common law regime in the rest of Canada. Division 8 of Part 2 amends the Environmental Violations Administrative Monetary Penalties Act to, among other things, provide that penalties may be imposed for certain violations of the Fisheries Act , increase the maximum penalty amount for a violation and extend certain limitation periods. Division 1 of Part 3 amends the Fisheries Act to authorize the use of electronic means to administer and enforce that Act. Division 2 of Part 3 amends the Radiocommunication Act to, among other things, (a) replace the Minister of Industry’s power to issue technical acceptance certificates for any radio apparatus, interference-causing equipment or radio-sensitive equipment with the power to register such apparatus or equipment; (b) specify that the Minister may administer electronic systems, including databases, related to the use of the spectrum or radio apparatus and may designate persons to administer such systems; (c) authorize the Minister and other persons with powers, duties and functions under that Act to use electronic means in exercising those powers and performing those duties and functions; and (d) specify that that Act applies on board any part of a spacecraft that is under the direction or control of Canadians. Division 3 of Part 3 amends the Statutory Instruments Act to, among other things, (a) modernize that Act respecting the transmission of certain documents; (b) clarify procedures respecting the preparation and examination of proposed regulations; and (c) repeal the requirement to publish quarterly consolidated indexes. It also makes related and consequential amendments to the Legislation Revision and Consolidation Act and certain Regulations. Finally, it repeals the Designation of Place of Inspection and Sale . Division 1 of Part 4 amends the Canada Border Services Agency Act to authorize the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness to exempt a person or class of persons from the application of a provision of program legislation if that Minister is of the opinion that certain conditions are met. Division 2 of Part 4 amends the Canadian Navigable Waters Act to exclude a closed-loop pumped artificial storage reservoir from the definition “navigable water” in that Act. Division 3 of Part 4 amends the Railway Safety Act to, among other things, authorize the Minister of Transport to renew, cancel or amend an exemption granted under section 22 or 22.‍1 of that Act. Division 4 of Part 4 amends the Marine Transportation Security Act to, among other things, (a) set out that Act’s purpose and allow the Minister of Transport to enter into agreements with organizations in respect of the administration and enforcement of that Act; (b) set out regulation-making powers that include powers respecting threats and risks to the health of persons involved in the marine transportation system, the sharing of information and the establishment of vessel exclusion zones; (c) authorize the Minister to make interim orders and give emergency directions and modify the Minister’s power to give directions to vessels; and (d) create new offences, increase certain penalties and extend the application of certain offence provisions and the administrative monetary penalty regime to vessels. Part 5 amends the Food and Drugs Act to align section 37 of that Act with export requirements under the Safe Food for Canadians Act by removing trade barriers and duplicative certification requirements. Division 1 of Part 6 amends the Aeronautics Act to, among other things, remove certain publication requirements in respect of notices and provide the Minister of Transport with the authority to prevent or restrict the use or development of lands adjacent to or in the vicinity of an airport or airport site. Division 2 of Part 6 amends the Canada Transportation Act to provide that information that is required to be provided to the Minister of Transport under certain Acts is confidential when it is received but may be disclosed in certain circumstances. It also makes a consequential amendment to the Railway Safety Act . Division 3 of Part 6 amends the Boards of Trade Act to, among other things, (a) modernize and simplify certain requirements relating to the formation of a board of trade, the composition of its council, the holding of general meetings, government approvals and the filing of documents; (b) establish financial review requirements based on annual revenues; (c) provide for the amalgamation, administrative dissolution and revival of boards of trade; and (d) repeal or replace obsolete terminology, requirements and provisions. Division 4 of Part 6 amends the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act to, among other things, (a) establish a summary bankruptcy procedure for small businesses; (b) establish a streamlined proposal procedure for small businesses; (c) replace the requirement to publish a notice of bankruptcy in a local newspaper with a requirement to do so in the manner specified in directives of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy; and (d) provide that, if every opposition based solely on grounds referred to in paragraph 173(1)‍(m) or (n) of that Act is withdrawn, a bankrupt who was eligible for an automatic discharge before the opposition was filed will be issued a certificate of discharge. Division 5 of Part 6 amends the Canadian Agricultural Loans Act to, among other things, grant the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food the power to reconsider claims for loss and recover overpayments. It also makes related amendments to the Canadian Agricultural Loans Regulations to, among other things, clarify the maximum annual rate of interest payable by a borrower to a designated lender. Available on the Senate of Canada website at the following address: www.sencanada.ca/en

The government's summary, printed at the front of the bill as introduced.