Democracy & rights

Most activity in the last two sitting weeks first.

• New Indian Act registration rules

  Expands who qualifies for First Nations (Indian) status following a Charter challenge, and lets them join departmental band lists.

  Being studied

  Passed the Senate; now in the House, in committee there

  S-2 An Act to amend the Indian Act (new registration entitlements)

• Federal election rules updated

  Updates federal election rules by banning foreign influence and anonymous donations, and raises election fines.

  Law since Jun 18

  C-25 Strong and Free Elections Act

• New hate crime offences created

  Creates criminal offences for hate-motivated crimes, displaying hate symbols in public, and blocking access to religious or cultural places.

  Law since Jun 18

  C-9 Combatting Hate Act

Most of these never become law. Furthest along first.

• Expanded foreign human rights sanctions

  Expands foreign sanctions laws to cover transnational repression and denies visas to family members of sanctioned individuals.

  Almost law

  Passed the House; now in the Senate, debate there under way

  C-219 International Anti-Corruption and Human Rights Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law No. 3) · Private member's bill

• Public debt forgiveness registry

  Creates a public registry of large debts and claims owed to the federal government that have been forgiven or written off.

  Almost law

  Passed the House; now in the Senate, in committee there

  C-230 An Act to amend the Financial Administration Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts (debt forgiveness registry) · Private member's bill

• Reporting on unpaid taxes

  Requires the Canada Revenue Agency to report on tax evasion convictions and unpaid tax estimates, meant to fight international evasion.

  Being studied

  Passed the Senate; now in the House, in committee there

  S-217 Fairness for All Canadian Taxpayers Act (measuring the tax gap to fight international tax evasion) · Senator's bill

• Diversity reporting by political parties

  Requires registered political parties to publish diversity information and directs election officials to report on candidate demographics.

  Being debated

  First debate in the Senate: 3 days so far

  S-213 An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (demographic information) · Senator's bill

• Rules for notwithstanding clause

  Sets conditions Parliament must meet before using the notwithstanding clause to override parts of the Charter.

  Being debated

  First debate in the Senate: 9 days so far

  S-218 An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1982 (notwithstanding clause) · Senator's bill

• Limits on non-disclosure agreements

  Restricts using federal funds for non-disclosure agreements in discrimination or harassment settlements and requires reporting on their use.

  Being debated

  First debate in the Senate: 3 days so far

  S-232 Can’t Buy Silence Act · Senator's bill

• Indigenous rights statements for bills

  Requires a statement on how every government bill affects Indigenous rights recognized in the Constitution.

  Proposed

  Introduced June 18; not debated yet

  S-250 Indigenous Rights Statement Act · Senator's bill

• Mandatory minimums for child abuse material

  Applies the notwithstanding clause to keep mandatory minimum sentences for possessing or accessing child sexual abuse material.

  Proposed

  Introduced November 5, 2025; not debated yet

  S-240 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (declaration of exception pursuant to subsection 33(1) of the Charter for mandatory minimum sentences for child sexual abuse and exploitation material offences) · Senator's bill