Three Acts Receive Royal Assent

Summary#

This Canada Gazette, Part I (published October 26, 2024) lists parliamentary notices and records that three bills received royal assent on October 10, 2024. It also reminds readers about a notice rule for private bills (Standing Order 130) that was published on November 20, 2021.

What it does#

• Notes that Standing Order 130 (about notices for intended private-bill applications) was published on November 20, 2021 and gives a contact for the Private Members’ Business Office.
• Records that royal assent was signified on October 10, 2024 for three pieces of legislation:
  • An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to another Act (interim release and domestic violence recognizance orders) (Bill S‑205, chapter 22, 2024)
  • An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts (child sexual abuse and exploitation material) (Bill C‑291, chapter 23, 2024)
  • An Act respecting pharmacare (Bill C‑64, chapter 24, 2024)
• Lists the clerks who signed or recorded the item: Charles Robert (Clerk of the House of Commons) and Shaila Anwar (Clerk of the Senate and Clerk of the Parliaments).

Who's affected#

• People involved in the criminal justice system (accused persons, victims, defence lawyers, prosecutors, and judges) because two of the Acts amend the Criminal Code.
• People concerned with online sexual exploitation laws and child-protection groups, based on the title of Bill C‑291.
• Canadians who may benefit from a national pharmacare program or who pay for prescription medications, because of Bill C‑64’s title.
• Members of Parliament or private citizens interested in introducing or following private bills, who may use the Private Members’ Business Office contact.

Note: the Canada Gazette entry only lists the acts and their assent; it does not include the full text or details about how the laws will work. The exact effects depend on the contents of each Act.

Why it matters#

• Royal assent means these bills have completed the parliamentary approval step listed in the Gazette. That is the formal point at which they move from bill form toward becoming law in Canada.
• The items signal changes that could affect court procedures and protections in domestic-violence and child-exploitation contexts, and they show federal action on pharmacare—each of which could have direct effects on people's safety, legal rights, or access to medicines.
• The notice about Standing Order 130 is relevant if you or an organization plan to apply for a private bill; it tells where to get more information.