moved for leave to introduce Bill C-321, an act to amend the Statutory Instruments Act (regulatory accountability).
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to introduce the bill. It would ensure that all proposed regulations must be laid by the designated minister before each House of Parliament in order to give the appropriate committee of each House of Parliament the opportunity to conduct inquiries or public hearings with respect to the proposed regulation and report its findings to that House.
As much as 90% of a bill's legislative impact comes in the form of regulations put in place by departmental bureaucrats acting on the delegated authority of a minister. As a result, parliamentary review of regulations takes place after they are in place and even then they only come before the scrutiny of regulations committee if there is a problem. This proposal would ensure transparency and fairness in the regulatory process.
I urge all members of the government and opposition parties to support this measure because it would improve the democratic and legislative process.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)