Three Bills Received Royal Assent

Summary#

On December 15, 2023, the Deputy of the Governor General, Richard Wagner, gave Royal Assent to three bills listed in the House of Commons record. The Canada Gazette notice records that these bills became acts, including a tax/competition bill, a firearms bill, and a government spending bill for the current fiscal year.

What it does#

• Records that An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act and the Competition Act (Bill C-56, chapter 31, 2023) received Royal Assent.
• Records that An Act to amend certain Acts and to make certain consequential amendments (firearms) (Bill C-21, chapter 32, 2023) received Royal Assent.
• Records that An Act for granting to His Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024 (Bill C-60, chapter 33, 2023) received Royal Assent. The fiscal year end is March 31, 2024.
• The notice also refers to a previous publication about private-bill procedures (Standing Order 130) and gives a contact for the Private Members’ Business Office.

Who's affected#

• Businesses and consumers could be affected by changes in Bill C-56 (tax and competition rules).
• Gun owners, public-safety groups, and law enforcement could be affected by Bill C-21 (firearms-related changes).
• Federal departments, public servants, and anyone who depends on federal program funding are affected by Bill C-60, which approves government spending through March 31, 2024.
• The Gazette item itself is a formal record; it does not give the detailed text of the new laws, so the exact effects depend on the full acts.

Why it matters#

• Royal Assent is the final formal step that turns a bill into law. This notice tells the public which bills completed that step on December 15, 2023.
• The three acts touch on taxation and competition policy, firearms law, and federal government funding — areas that can influence prices, public safety, and the delivery of government services.
• To understand specific changes or new rules, people and organizations should look up the full text of each act or follow departmental guidance.