Bill S-3 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Offshore Health and Safety Act

This bill is from the 43rd Parliament, 2nd session, which ended in August 2021.

Status

This bill has received Royal Assent and is now law.

Summary

This is from the published bill.

This enactment amends the Offshore Health and Safety Act to postpone the repeal of its transitional regulations.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from 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 S-3s:

S-3 (2021) An Act to amend the Judges Act

S-3 (2016) Law An Act to amend the Indian Act in response to the Superior Court of Quebec decision in Descheneaux c. Canada (Procureur général)

S-3 (2013) Law Port State Measures Agreement Implementation Act

S-3 (2011) Law Federal Law–Civil Law Harmonization Act, No. 3

Debate Summary

This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.

Bill S-3 amends the Offshore Health and Safety Act to extend transitional regulations for offshore oil and gas workers' health and safety until December 31, 2021, while permanent regulations are finalized.

Conservative

Supports passing bill S-3 quickly: The party supports passing Bill S-3 urgently to restore health and safety protections for offshore oil workers that lapsed on December 31, 2020.
Criticizes government delays: Conservatives criticize the government for its negligent delay in finalizing permanent safety regulations, leaving offshore workers unprotected for months after temporary rules expired.
Calls for permanent regulations: While supporting the bill as a stopgap, the party emphasizes the urgent need for permanent, updated regulations reflecting technological changes and sees this extension as the absolute final one.

NDP

Supports speedy passage: The NDP supports the speedy passage of the bill to restore essential offshore health and safety regulations that expired.
Criticizes lapsed regulations: The party strongly criticizes the government for allowing the regulations to expire, leaving no enforceable safety regime for offshore workers.
Enforceability gap created: The lapse means regulations were unenforceable, and individuals cannot be charged for offences committed during the period without the regulations.
Safety council not established: The NDP highlights the government's failure to establish the required Offshore Safety Advisory Council in Newfoundland and Labrador since 2014.

Bloc

Supports Bill S-3: The Bloc Québécois supports Bill S-3, which amends an act to allow up to seven years to repeal regulations concerning occupational health and safety.
Avoid further delays: The party urges the government to avoid delays in passing and implementing the bill, emphasizing the need for swift action to protect workers.
Prioritize worker safety: Protecting the health and safety of employees and workers should be the government's priority, taking precedence over the interests of oil companies.

Liberal

Extend safety regulations: Bill S-3 extends transitional offshore health and safety regulations retroactively to January 1, 2021, allowing more time to finalize permanent rules.
Finalize complex regulations: The delay in finalizing permanent regulations is due to the complexity of vetting and translating extensive documents and standards involving multiple governments and boards.
Improve worker safety: The bill supports improving health and safety for offshore workers by clarifying roles, establishing employee rights, including the right to refuse dangerous work, and ensuring a shared safety culture.

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