Bill C-263 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Referendum Act (reform of the electoral system of Canada)

This bill is from the 40th Parliament, 2nd session, which ended in December 2009.

Sponsor

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

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 Jan. 27, 2009
(This bill did not become law.)

Similar bills

C-263 (40th Parliament, 3rd session) An Act to amend the Referendum Act (reform of the electoral system of Canada)

C-329 (39th Parliament, 2nd session) An Act to amend the Referendum Act (reform of the electoral system of Canada)

C-329 (39th Parliament, 1st session) An Act to amend the Referendum Act (reform of the electoral system of Canada)

C-224 (38th Parliament, 1st session) An Act to amend the Referendum Act (reform of the electoral system of Canada)

C-216 (37th Parliament, 2nd session) An Act to amend the Referendum Act

C-478 (37th Parliament, 1st session) An Act to amend the Referendum Act

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.

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-263s:

C-263 (2022) Responsible Business Conduct Abroad Act

C-263 (2021) Equalization and Transfers Fairness Act

C-263 (2016) An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (hearing impairment)

C-263 (2013) An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act (social condition)

C-263 (2011) An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act (social condition)

1^st reading

Referendum ActRoutine Proceedings

January 27th, 2009 / 3:25 p.m.

NDP

Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-263, An Act to amend the Referendum Act (reform of the electoral system of Canada).

Mr. Speaker, this bill seeks to amend the Referendum Act so that a referendum may be held on any question relating to the reform of the electoral system in Canada.

We kept the bill simple and straightforward for a specific purpose. We do not want to cloud the issue with what the changes should be to the electoral system but we do want to ask Canadians directly if they are or are not satisfied with the current first past the post system. If they are not, we want to consult with Canadians on whether they would be willing to entertain what we believe would be good, which is a system of proportional representation.

The first and necessary step is for the members of the House of Commons to amend the Referendum Act to contemplate such a referendum being held on questions related to the reform of the electoral system in Canada.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)