Can’t Buy Silence Act

An Act respecting non-disclosure agreements

Status

Second reading (Senate), as of Oct. 5, 2023

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Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment requires the President of the Treasury Board to report on the use of certain non-disclosure agreements in the federal public sector. It also requires Parliament to undertake a review of the Act every two years after it enters into force.
It amends the Financial Administration Act and the Parliament of Canada Act in respect of the use of public money to enter into non-disclosure agreements and to litigate non-disclosure agreements against complainants.
It amends the Financial Administration Act to require federal officials empowered to make grants and contributions to take measures to ensure that public money is not used to
(a) pay for settlements in relation to harassment and violence or discrimination if the settlement is to include a non-disclosure agreement; or
(b) litigate non-disclosure agreements against complainants.
Finally, it amends the Financial Administration Act to require non-government entities receiving a grant or contribution of federal funds to report to the President of the Treasury Board on their use of non-disclosure agreements.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.