Bill S-201 (Historical)

Genetic Non-Discrimination Act

An Act to prohibit and prevent genetic discrimination

This bill was last introduced in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session, which ended in September 2019.

This bill was previously introduced in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session.

Status

This bill has received Royal Assent and is now law.

Summary

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

This enactment prohibits any person from requiring an individual to undergo a genetic test or disclose the results of a genetic test as a condition of providing goods or services to, entering into or continuing a contract with, or offering specific conditions in a contract with the individual. Exceptions are provided for medical practitioners and researchers, as well as for insurance providers in respect of high-value insurance contracts if provincial laws expressly permit a requirement that existing genetic test results be disclosed.
The enactment amends the Canada Labour Code to protect employees from being required to undergo or to disclose the results of a genetic test, and provides employees with other protections related to genetic testing and test results. It also amends the Canadian Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the ground of genetic characteristics.

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.

Votes

March 8, 2017 Passed That the Bill be now read a third time and do pass.
March 8, 2017 Passed That Bill S-201, An Act to prohibit and prevent genetic discrimination, as amended, be concurred in at report stage .
March 8, 2017 Failed
Oct. 26, 2016 Passed That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

Justice and Human Rights Committee, on Nov. 15, 2016

  • James S. Cowan, Senator, Lib., Senate
  • Marie-Claude Landry, Chief Commissioner, Canadian Human Rights Commission
  • Marcella Daye, Senior Policy Advisor, Human Rights Promotion Branch, Canadian Human Rights Commission
  • Fiona Keith, Counsel, Human Rights Protection Branch, Canadian Human Rights Commission

Justice and Human Rights Committee, on Nov. 17, 2016

  • Laurie Sargent, Deputy Director General and General Counsel, Human Rights Law Sector, Public Law and Legislative Services Sector, Department of Justice
  • Laurie Wright, Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Justice
  • Bev Heim-Myers, Chair, Canadian Coalition for Genetic Fairness
  • Richard Marceau, General Counsel and Senior Government Advisor, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs
  • Noah Shack, Director of Policy, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs
  • Clare Gibbons, Genetic Counsellor and Past President, Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors

Justice and Human Rights Committee, on Nov. 22, 2016

  • Bruce Ryder, Associate Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, As an Individual
  • Peter Hogg, Scholar in Residence, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, As an Individual
  • Hugo Cyr, Dean, Faculty of Political Science and Law, Université du Québec à Montréal, As an Individual
  • Pierre Thibault, Assistant Dean and Counsel, Civil Law Section, University of Ottawa, As an Individual
  • Ronald Cohn, Paediatrician-in-Chief, Hospital For Sick Children, As an Individual
  • Stephen Frank, Senior Vice-President, Policy, Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association
  • Frank Zinatelli, Vice-President and General Counsel, Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association
  • Jacques Boudreau, Chair, Genetic Testing Committee, Canadian Institute of Actuaries
  • Robert Howard, Past President, Canadian Institute of Actuaries

Justice and Human Rights Committee, on Nov. 24, 2016

Justice and Human Rights Committee, on Dec. 1, 2016