This bill was last introduced in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session, which ended in September 2008.
Pat Martin NDP
Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)
Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of April 2, 2008
(This bill did not become law.)
This is from the published bill.
This enactment amends the Currency Act and the Royal Canadian Mint Act to provide that one cent coins will not be legal tender beginning on January 1 of the year immediately following the year in which the enactment is assented to, and will be called in following a proclamation by the Governor in Council.
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.
The Acting Speaker Royal Galipeau
It seems that there is an administrative error in the text of Bill C-531. The Chair has therefore requested that the bill be reprinted and that the new version be posted on the parliamentary website.
I am tabling, for the information of all members, a copy of the letter received by the Speaker from the law clerk, outlining the required changes.
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-531, An Act to amend the Currency Act and the Royal Canadian Mint Act (abolition of the cent).
Mr. Speaker, let me clear. This is the abolition of the cent, not the abolition of the Senate.
This bill is based on the premise that the penny is of no commercial value. It does not circulate and it costs more to produce than it is worth. I guess there are some parallels to the Senate. There are approximately 20 billion pennies--