Royal Assent to Multiple Federal Bills

Summary#

On December 15, 2022, the Governor General gave Royal Assent to several federal bills, so they were formally approved by Parliament. The Canada Elections Act registry also shows that the Veterans Coalition Party of Canada will be deregistered, effective January 15, 2023.

What it does#

• Records that Royal Assent was signified (by written declaration) and lists the bills that were approved on December 15, 2022:
  • An Act respecting a National Ribbon Skirt Day (Bill S-219)
  • An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Identification of Criminals Act and to make related amendments to other Acts (COVID-19 response and other measures) (Bill S-4)
  • An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (trafficking in human organs) (Bill S-223)
  • An Act to implement certain provisions of the fall economic statement... and certain provisions of the budget... (Bill C-32)
  • An Act for granting to His Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023 (Bill C-36)
  • An Act respecting the building of a green economy in the Prairies (Bill C-235)
• Notes the deregistration of a political party:
  • The Veterans Coalition Party of Canada is listed as deregistered under the Canada Elections Act, effective January 15, 2023, because it failed to meet certain obligations.

Who's affected#

• People and groups involved with the listed bills:
  • The bill titles suggest they touch on Indigenous recognition (Bill S-219), criminal law and identification (Bill S-4, Bill S-223), federal budgets and spending (Bill C-32, Bill C-36), and prairie economic development (Bill C-235). The notice does not explain the detailed effects of each law.
• Those connected to the party deregistration:
  • Members, supporters and potential candidates of the Veterans Coalition Party of Canada.
  • Anyone who planned to vote for or organize around that party may be affected by its loss of registered status.
• Electoral authorities and the general public may notice updated lists and ballot information because of the deregistration.

Why it matters#

• Royal Assent is the final step for bills to become statutes. That means the listed measures have moved from being proposals to formally approved Acts, though the notice does not say when each will actually take effect or what the full impacts will be.
• Deregistration under the Canada Elections Act removes a party’s official registered status. That changes how the party is treated in the federal electoral system and can affect its ability to operate under that name in future elections. The notice gives the effective date (January 15, 2023) but not the detailed consequences.