Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)
Status
Second reading (Senate), as of Oct. 24, 2024 (This bill did not become law.)
Summary
This is from the published bill.
This enactment provides for the development of a national strategy to provide key stakeholders with the information they need to forecast floods and droughts.
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 C-317s:
C-317 (2021)
An Act to amend the Income Tax Act
(assistance for repayment of student loans)
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 C-317 aims to establish a national strategy for improved flood and drought forecasting through enhanced collaboration and information sharing among federal, provincial, and Indigenous experts, as well as the insurance industry. The bill seeks to create a more structured and streamlined approach to predicting and preparing for these climate-related events. It does not require any internal reorganization or incur expenses.
Liberal
Supports technical collaboration: Bill C-317 is designed to encourage technical collaboration in forecasting droughts and floods to improve predictions. The bill aims to foster collaboration without incurring significant expenses or internal reorganization within the Department of Environment.
Importance of collaboration: The bill requires federal officials to collaborate with experts from provincial governments, indigenous peoples, and the insurance industry to develop a better plan for drought and flood forecasting. While some collaboration exists, the bill seeks to structure and streamline these efforts for improved effectiveness.
Inspired by local flooding: The bill was inspired by the flooding in the member's riding, which is surrounded by water and increasingly impacted by climate change. The goal is to mitigate the devastation and destruction caused by these events.
Conservative
Supports the bill: The Conservative Party supports the bill due to its lack of cost, emphasis on collaboration between government levels, and alignment with addressing climate change impacts.
No additional costs: The bill's feasibility within the existing departmental budget is a key reason for the Conservative Party's support.
Collaboration is essential: The party supports the bill's focus on collaboration, coordination, and information sharing between different levels of government, acknowledging the unique characteristics and expertise of each province.
Address climate change: The bill aligns with the Conservative Party's commitment, as expressed by its leader, to address the realities and impacts of climate change through collaborative efforts.
NDP
Bill is insufficient: The bill is viewed as insufficient because it only focuses on consultation and forecasting without addressing the root causes of climate change. The member argues that the Liberal government's actions are making climate change worse, despite their PR efforts and international commitments.
Disproportionate impacts: Climate change is disproportionately impacting many communities, particularly First Nations and northern communities. Peguis First Nation, forcibly relocated to a flood plain, has experienced extreme flooding and has filed a lawsuit against the federal government for failing to provide adequate flood protection.
Military support concerns: Comments from the chief of the defence staff about military personnel being "wickedly wasteful" when responding to domestic disasters are concerning. The member of parliament asked the Prime Minister to reassure Canadians that the military will prioritize the needs of Canadians during floods and forest fires, especially for northern and indigenous communities.
Bloc
Supports the bill's intent: The Bloc Québécois supports the bill, noting that Quebec already has similar tools and infrastructure in place. The speaker emphasized the need for better coordination among existing organizations responsible for managing information related to weather events that cause flooding and drought.
Climate change exacerbates events: The Bloc acknowledges that droughts and floods are worsened by climate change and disruptions. Public authorities must rely on science to guide decision-making and make relevant information available to the public.
Need for long-term prediction: The Bloc emphasizes the importance of long-term predictions regarding the influence of future disruptions at specific locations, referencing the work of Professor Gachon's team with Environment Canada software.
Optimistic but needs answers: While no one is immune to climate disruptions, the Bloc expresses optimism about the bill but notes that concerns remain about the benefits of Bill C-317, as not enough answers were provided.
The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at third reading stage of Bill C‑317 under Private Members' Business.
Links & Sharing
(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)
