An Act to amend the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act
This bill is from the 44th Parliament, 1st session, which ended in January 2025.
Status
This bill has received Royal Assent and is now law.
Summary
This is from the published bill.
This enactment amends the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act by deleting the schedule to that Act and the references to that schedule in that Act, in order to avoid potential discrepancies between the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, as amended from time to time, and the portions of that Convention that are reproduced in that schedule.
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-9 amends the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act to align Canadian law with the international Chemical Weapons Convention. The bill removes the schedule of prohibited chemical weapons from the act and replaces it with a reference to the convention, ensuring that Canadian law automatically reflects any future changes to the convention's list of prohibited chemicals, including nerve agents like Novichok. This update aims to strengthen Canada's commitment to preventing the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons.
Conservative
Supporting bill S-9: The Conservative Party supports Bill S-9, emphasizing its importance in aligning Canadian law with the Chemical Weapons Convention and updating the list of regulated chemicals. The member urged its swift adoption in order to fulfill Canada's international obligations.
Addresses gaps in legislation: Bill S-9 addresses a discrepancy between the Canadian act and the Chemical Weapons Convention's latest listing of chemical weapons, which includes novichok-style agents. The bill will ensure that future legislation is not required to update the list of chemicals regulated in Canada under the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act, and will automatically align Canadian law with changes that are expected to happen from time to time under the convention.
Ongoing chemical weapons use: The Conservative position recognizes the ongoing use of chemical weapons, including by Russia, for assassinations on foreign soil. They highlight the need for Canada to have the proper tools to deter this activity and stop the proliferation and use of chemical weapons, and that Canada's laws should comply with obligations for deterrence.
Liberal
Supports Bill S-9: The Liberal party strongly supports Bill S-9, which amends the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act to align Canadian legislation with international obligations and prevent the development, production, and use of chemical weapons. The bill updates the list of controlled substances to include novichoks, strengthens Canada's commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention, and reinforces the rules-based international system.
Condemns chemical weapon use: The Liberals condemn the use of chemical weapons as a vile act of barbarism and are committed to working towards a world free of such weapons. The party highlights instances of chemical weapon use by state and non-state actors, emphasizing the need for international cooperation and vigilance.
Leadership role for Canada: The Liberals emphasize Canada's leadership in international efforts to eliminate chemical weapons, including the addition of novichoks to the Chemical Weapons Convention's list of controlled substances. They highlight Canada's financial contributions to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and its support for the destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles worldwide.
Opposes Conservative obstruction: The Liberals express disappointment with the Conservative opposition for blocking debate on Bill S-9, accusing them of hindering efforts to modernize legislation aimed at helping victims of chemical warfare. The Liberals claim the Conservatives blocked debate on the eve of the Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare and days before Remembrance Day, when many Canadians who fell victim to the horror of chemical warfare are commemorated.
Madam Speaker, it is not often that the member gives me an opportunity to agree with him and to affirm, as I am sure he does, based on the question, that Canada does have an important responsibility to be a leader in the world in the suppression of weapons of mass destruction. He is right; Russia is a threat to world security in its ongoing use of chemical weapons as a tool of assassination. We do not know what its undeclared stockpiles are, so I do agree with the member on the importance of the agreement and on the importance of Canadian leadership in this matter.
