Bill C-59 (Historical)

Economic Action Plan 2015 Act, No. 1

An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 21, 2015 and other measures

Part 1 implements income tax measures and related measures proposed or referenced in the April 21, 2015 budget. In particular, it
(a) reduces the required minimum amount that must be withdrawn annually from a registered retirement income fund, a variable benefit money purchase registered pension plan or a pooled registered pension plan;
(b) ensures that amounts received on account of the new critical injury benefit and the new family caregiver relief benefit under the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act are exempt from income tax;
(c) decreases the small business tax rate and makes consequential adjustments to the dividend gross-up factor and dividend tax credit;
(d) increases the lifetime capital gains exemption to $1 million for qualified farm and fishing properties;
(e) introduces the home accessibility tax credit;
(f) extends, for one year, the mineral exploration tax credit for flow-through share investors;
(g) extends, for five years, the tax deferral regime that applies to patronage dividends paid to members by an eligible agricultural cooperative in the form of eligible shares;
(h) extends until the end of 2018 the temporary measure that allows certain family members to open a registered disability savings plan for an adult individual who might not be able to enter into a contract;
(i) permits certain foreign charitable foundations to be registered as qualified donees;
(j) increases the annual contribution limit for tax-free savings accounts to $10,000;
(k) creates a new quarterly remitter category for certain small new employers; and
(l) provides an accelerated capital cost allowance for investment in machinery and equipment used in manufacturing and processing.
Part 2 implements various measures for families.
Division 1 of Part 2 implements the income tax measures announced on October 30, 2014. It amends the Income Tax Act to increase the maximum annual amounts deductible for child care expenses, to repeal the child tax credit and to introduce the family tax cut credit that is modified to include transferred education-related amounts in the calculation of that credit as announced in the April 21, 2015 budget.
Division 2 of Part 2 amends the Universal Child Care Benefit Act to, effective January 1, 2015, enhance the universal child care benefit by providing $160 per month for children under six years of age and by providing a new benefit of $60 per month for children six years of age or older but under 18 years of age.
It also amends the Children’s Special Allowances Act to, effective January 1, 2015, increase the special allowance supplement for children under six years of age from $100 to $160 per month and introduce a special allowance supplement in the amount of $60 per month for children six years of age or older but under 18 years of age.
Part 3 enacts and amends several Acts in order to implement various measures.
Division 1 of Part 3 enacts the Federal Balanced Budget Act. That Act provides for certain measures that are to apply in the case of a projected or recorded deficit. It also provides for the appearance of the Minister of Finance before a House of Commons committee to explain the reasons for the deficit and present a plan for a return to balanced budgets.
Division 2 of Part 3 enacts the Prevention of Terrorist Travel Act in order to establish a mechanism to protect information in respect of judicial proceedings in relation to decisions made by the designated minister under the Canadian Passport Order to prevent the commission of a terrorism offence or for the purposes of the national security of Canada or a foreign country or state. It also makes a related amendment to the Canada Evidence Act.
Division 3 of Part 3 amends the Industrial Design Act, the Patent Act and the Trade-marks Act to, among other things, provide for extensions of time limits in unforeseen circumstances and provide the authority to make regulations respecting the correction of obvious errors. It also amends the Patent Act and the Trade-marks Act to protect communications between patent or trade-mark agents and their clients in the same way as communications that are subject to solicitor-client privilege.
Division 4 of Part 3 amends the Canada Labour Code to increase the maximum amount of compassionate care leave to 28 weeks and to extend to 52 weeks the period within which that leave may be taken. It also amends the Employment Insurance Act to, among other things, increase to 26 the maximum number of weeks of compassionate care benefits and to extend to 52 weeks the period within which those benefits may be paid.
Division 5 of Part 3 amends the Copyright Act to extend the term of copyright protection for a published sound recording and a performer’s performance fixed in a published sound recording from 50 years to 70 years after publication. However, the term is capped at 100 years after the first fixation of, respectively, the sound recording or the performer’s performance in a sound recording.
Division 6 of Part 3 amends the Export Development Act to add a development finance function to the current mandate of Export Development Canada (EDC), which will enable EDC to provide development financing and other forms of development support in a manner consistent with Canada’s international development priorities. The amendments also provide that the Minister for International Trade is to consult the Minister for International Development on matters related to EDC’s development finance function.
Division 7 of Part 3 amends the Canada Labour Code in order to, among other things, provide that Parts II and III of that Act apply to persons who are not employees but who perform for employers activities whose primary purpose is to enable those persons to acquire knowledge or experience, set out circumstances in which Part III of that Act does not apply to those persons and provide for regulations to be made to apply and adapt any provision of that Part to them.
Division 8 of Part 3 amends the Members of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act to, among other things, provide that the Chief Actuary is not permitted to distinguish between members of either House of Parliament when fixing contribution rates under that Act.
Division 9 of Part 3 amends the National Energy Board Act to extend the maximum duration of licences for the exportation of natural gas that are issued under that Act.
Division 10 of Part 3 amends the Parliament of Canada Act to establish an office to be called the Parliamentary Protective Service, which is to be responsible for all matters with respect to physical security throughout the parliamentary precinct and Parliament Hill and is to be under the responsibility of the Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Commons. The Division provides that the Speakers of the two Houses of Parliament and the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness must enter into an arrangement to have the Royal Canadian Mounted Police provide physical security services throughout that precinct and Parliament Hill. It also makes consequential amendments to other Acts.
Division 11 of Part 3 amends the definition “insured participant” in the Employment Insurance Act to extend eligibility for assistance under employment benefits under Part II of that Act, while providing that the definition as it reads before that Division comes into force may continue to apply for the purposes of an agreement with a government under section 63 of that Act that is entered into after that Division comes into force. It also contains transitional provisions and makes consequential amendments.
Division 12 of Part 3 amends the Canada Small Business Financing Act to modify the definition “small business” in order to increase the maximum amount of estimated gross annual revenue referred to in that definition. It also amends provisions of that Act that relate to eligibility criteria for borrowers for the purpose of financing the purchase or improvement of real property or immovables, in order to increase the maximum outstanding loan amount.
Division 13 of Part 3 amends the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act to extend the application of that Act to organizations set out in Schedule 4 in respect of personal information described in that Schedule.
Division 14 of Part 3 amends the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act to require the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada to disclose designated information to provincial securities regulators in certain circumstances.
Division 15 of Part 3 amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to
(a) clarify and expand the application of certain provisions requiring the collection of biometric information so that those requirements apply not only to applications for a temporary resident visa, work permit or study permit but may also apply to other types of applications, claims and requests made under that Act that are specified in the regulations; and
(b) authorize the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness to administer that Act using electronic means, including by allowing the making of an automated decision and by requiring the making of an application, request or claim, the submitting of documents or the providing of information, using electronic means.
Division 16 of Part 3 amends the First Nations Fiscal Management Act to accelerate and streamline participation in the scheme established under that Act, reduce the regulatory burden on participating first nations and strengthen the confidence of capital markets and investors in respect of that scheme.
Division 17 of Part 3 amends the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act to
(a) add a purpose statement to that Act;
(b) improve the transition process of Canadian Forces members and veterans to civilian life by allowing the Minister of Veterans Affairs to make decisions in respect of applications made by those members for services, assistance and compensation under that Act before their release from the Canadian Forces and to provide members and veterans with information and guidance before and after their release;
(c) establish the retirement income security benefit to provide eligible veterans and survivors with a continued financial benefit after the age of 65 years;
(d) establish the critical injury benefit to provide eligible Canadian Forces members and veterans with lump-sum compensation for severe, sudden and traumatic injuries or acute diseases that are service related, regardless of whether they result in permanent disability; and
(e) establish the family caregiver relief benefit to provide eligible veterans who require a high level of ongoing care from an informal caregiver with an annual grant to recognize that caregiver’s support.
The Division also amends the Veterans Review and Appeal Board Act as a consequence of the establishment of the critical injury benefit.
Division 18 of Part 3 amends the Ending the Long-gun Registry Act to, among other things, provide that the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act do not apply with respect to records and copies of records that are to be destroyed in accordance with the Ending the Long-gun Registry Act. The non-application of the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act is retroactive to October 25, 2011, the day on which the Ending the Long-gun Registry Act was introduced into Parliament.
Division 19 of Part 3 amends the Trust and Loan Companies Act, the Bank Act, the Insurance Companies Act and the Cooperative Credit Associations Act to modernize, clarify and enhance the protection of prescribed supervisory information that relates to federally regulated financial institutions.
Division 20 of Part 3 authorizes the Treasury Board to establish and modify, despite the Public Service Labour Relations Act, terms and conditions of employment related to the sick leave of employees who are employed in the core public administration.
It also authorizes the Treasury Board to establish and modify, despite that Act, a short-term disability program, and it requires the Treasury Board to establish a committee to make joint recommendations regarding any modifications to that program.
Finally, it authorizes the Treasury Board to modify, despite that Act, the existing public service long-term disability programs in respect of the period during which employees are not entitled to receive benefits.

The House proceeded to the consideration of Bill C-59, an act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 21, 2015 and other measures, as reported (without amendment) from the committee.

Speaker's Ruling

[The Speaker, Andrew Scheer]

There are 149 motions in amendment standing on the notice paper for the report stage of Bill C-59. All motions, except Motion No. 49 and Motion No. 116, have been examined and the Chair is satisfied that they meet the guidelines expressed in the note to Standing Order 76.1(5) regarding the selection of motions in amendment at report stage.

Motions Nos. 1 to 48, 50 to 115, and 117 to 149 will be grouped for debate and voted upon according to the voting pattern available at the table.

I will now put Motions Nos. 1 to 48, 50 to 115 and 117 to 149 to the House.

Motions in amendment

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

moved:

Motion No. 1

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting the long title.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

,

seconded by the member for Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, moved:

Motion No. 2

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting the short title.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

moved:

Motion No. 3

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 19.

Motion No. 4

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 29.

Motion No. 5

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 30.

Motion No. 6

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 31.

Motion No. 7

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 32.

Motion No. 8

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 33.

Motion No. 9

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 34.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

, seconded by the member for Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, moved:

Motion No. 10

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 41.

Motion No. 11

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 42.

Motion No. 12

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 43.

Motion No. 13

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 44.

Motion No. 14

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 45.

Motion No. 15

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 46.

Motion No. 16

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 47.

Motion No. 17

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 48.

Motion No. 18

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 49.

Motion No. 19

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 50.

Motion No. 20

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 51.

Motion No. 21

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 52.

Motion No. 22

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 53.

Motion No. 23

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 54.

Motion No. 24

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 55.

Motion No. 25

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 56.

Motion No. 26

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 57.

Motion No. 27

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 58.

[The Deputy Speaker, Joe Comartin]

Order, please. The hon. House leader for the official opposition is rising on a point of order.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am sorry to interrupt you, but the member for Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour is on his phone and that is not permitted in this House. I have made signs for him to stop his call, but he appears to be ignoring me, and quite frankly, he still is. Members know that the rules in the House mean that a member cannot be talking openly on his or her phone in the House of Commons.

[The Deputy Speaker]

I hope that the member realized that was not acceptable and that he ended his call.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

, seconded by the member for Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, moved:

Motion No. 28

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 59.

Motion No. 29

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 60.

Motion No. 30

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 61.

Motion No. 31

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 62.

Motion No. 32

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 63.

Motion No. 33

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 64.

Motion No. 34

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 65.

Motion No. 35

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 66.

Motion No. 36

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 67.

Motion No. 37

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 68.

Motion No. 38

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 69.

Motion No. 39

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 70.

Motion No. 40

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 71.

Motion No. 41

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 72.

Motion No. 42

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 81.

Motion No. 43

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 82.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

moved:

Motion No. 44

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 83.

Motion No. 45

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 84.

Motion No. 46

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 85.

Motion No. 47

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 86.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

, seconded by the member for Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, moved:

Motion No. 48

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 87.

Motion No. 50

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 88.

Motion No. 51

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 89.

Motion No. 52

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 90.

Motion No. 53

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 91.

Motion No. 54

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 92.

Motion No. 55

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 93.

Motion No. 56

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 97.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

moved:

Motion No. 57

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 98.

Motion No. 58

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 99.

Motion No. 59

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 100.

Motion No. 60

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 101.

Motion No. 61

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 102.

Motion No. 62

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 103.

Motion No. 63

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 104.

Motion No. 64

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 105.

Motion No. 65

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 106.

Motion No. 66

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 107.

Motion No. 67

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 108.

Motion No. 68

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 109.

Motion No. 69

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 110.

Motion No. 70

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 111.

Motion No. 71

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 112.

Motion No. 72

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 113.

Motion No. 73

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 114.

Motion No. 74

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 115.

Motion No. 75

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 116.

Motion No. 76

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 117.

Motion No. 77

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 118.

Motion No. 78

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 119.

Motion No. 79

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 120.

Motion No. 80

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 121.

Motion No. 81

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 122.

Motion No. 82

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 123.

Motion No. 83

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 124.

Motion No. 84

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 125.

Motion No. 85

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 126.

Motion No. 86

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 127.

Motion No. 87

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 128.

Motion No. 88

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 129.

Motion No. 89

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 130.

Motion No. 90

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 131.

Motion No. 91

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 132.

Motion No. 92

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 133.

Motion No. 93

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 134.

Motion No. 94

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 135.

Motion No. 95

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 136.

Motion No. 96

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 137.

Motion No. 97

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 138.

Motion No. 98

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 139.

Motion No. 99

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 140.

Motion No. 100

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 141.

Motion No. 101

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 142.

Motion No. 102

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 143.

Motion No. 103

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 144.

Motion No. 104

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 145.

Motion No. 105

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 146.

Motion No. 106

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 147.

Motion No. 107

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 148.

Motion No. 108

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 149.

Motion No. 109

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 150.

Motion No. 110

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 151.

Motion No. 111

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 152.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

, seconded by the member for Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, moved:

Motion No. 112

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 164.

Motion No. 113

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 165.

Motion No. 114

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 166.

Motion No. 115

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 168.

Motion No. 117

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 169.

Motion No. 118

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 170.

Motion No. 119

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 171.

Motion No. 120

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 172.

Motion No. 121

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 173.

Motion No. 122

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 174.

Motion No. 123

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 175.

Motion No. 124

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 176.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

moved:

Motion No. 125

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 230.

Motion No. 126

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 231.

Motion No. 127

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 253.

Motion No. 128

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 254.

Motion No. 129

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 255.

Motion No. 130

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 256.

Motion No. 131

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 257.

Motion No. 132

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 258.

Motion No. 133

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 259.

Motion No. 134

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 260.

Motion No. 135

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 261.

Motion No. 136

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 262.

Motion No. 137

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 263.

Motion No. 138

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 264.

Motion No. 139

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 265.

Motion No. 140

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 266.

Motion No. 141

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 267.

Motion No. 142

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 268.

Motion No. 143

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 269.

Motion No. 144

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 270.

Motion No. 145

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 271.

Motion No. 146

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 272.

Motion No. 147

That Bill C-59 be amended by deleting Clause 273.