2. The House of Commons passed Bill C-6 on June 12 2009.
3. On June 16 2009, Bill C-6 was introduced at 1st Reading in the Senate.
4. On October 7 2009 at 2nd Reading, Bill C-6 was referred to the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology for further examination, after more Senate debates than anticipated, and a massive public lobby effort confirmed Canadians would not settle for the passing of this unconstitutional bill.
5. Senate Committee hearings helped the 12 Senators decide how to work with a bill that saw their offices overwhelmed with messages to accept speakers; namely Shawn Buckley. Very few witnesses were heard. Most of them supported the bill. Shawn Buckley was only one of a handful of witnesses that was invited to speak who was in opposition to the bill. Again, his presence in Ottawa was made possible by additional grassroots pressure that won the attention of the Senate. On November 25 2009, Senator McCoy even blogged "The long awaited Shawn Buckley is here at the Senate Social Affairs Committee.......". The Senators were open to hear how Bill C-6 set a dangerous precedent.
6. The Senate Committee moved through Bill C-6 in a clause by clause review, voting on or making amendments to each section, before presenting its 12th Report to the full Senate on December 3 2009. This report outlined over 20 amendments to Bill C-6. On December 9 2009 all amendments were defeated 44-42 and 2 Abstentions. Although the amendments did not stick, this narrow margin showed a division growing in the Senate. Owed, to a large degree, by the cumulative actions of freedom groups across the country.
7. Two new amendments were tabled on December 10 2009. Senator George J. Furey and Senator Tommy Banks put amendments forward for the Senate to consider. These amendments targeted two issues - home-entry powers of inspectors and the disclosure of personal information and defence by reason of due diligence [meaning privacy of individuals and businesses]. They were debated and voted on. Bill C-6 passed on December 15 2009 with two amendments.
8. On Dec 11 2009, Bill C-6 went back to the House of Commons. Members of Parliament are on break until January 25 2010. There will be no movement with the bill, unless of course, Parliament prorogues. This is a real possibility with the Prime Minister needing to deflect some difficult criticism, that in part, is due to issues raised in Bill C-6. If Parliament prorogues then all government bills die on the order table.
9. If Parliament continues, the House of Commons has several options: (1) to pass the Senate’s amendments; (2) to amend or reject the amendments; or (3) reject one of the amendments and concur in or amend the other. If the House of Commons accepts the Senate’s amendments then Bill C-6 will be given Royal Assent. And it would become law.
If the House of Commons decides on one of the latter, then it informs the Senate by way of a message. The Senate may reconsider its amendments and then has three options: (1) to accept the decision of the House of Commons; (2) to reject the decision and maintain its amendments; or (3) to further amend what the House of Commons has put forward for consideration.
There is a fourth and most interesting option, and that is to have the House "float" or "leave" Bill C-6, which means it does nothing with the Senate’s amendments and allows the bill to die on the Order Paper.
10. The House of Commons needs to allow Bill C-6 to die on the Order Paper. SEND your name and email address to info@nhppa.org to receive the NHPPA alert that give you our next action.
CLICK HERE to watch Shawn’s 2 hour appearance before the Senate Committee on November 25 2009.
CLICK HERE to learn more about NHPPA Board Member John Biggs’ grassroots initiative – Suspend and Review the NHP Regulations.
CLICK HERE to read the NHPPA’s position statement on Health Canada’s “no fixed end date for the compliance and enforcement” announcement.
CLICK HERE to subscribe to the Charter of Health Freedom alerts.