The main features of Bill S-223 are as follows:
Current firearms categories are replaced with:
Hunting firearms;
Circumscribed firearms; and Prohibited firearms.
Unlike now, “prohibited firearm” is the new “default category”. If a particular firearm is not included in one of the other two categories, it is “prohibited” by default.
To qualify as a “hunting firearm”, government approval will be required by way of Order in Council for any specific model.
“Circumscribed firearms” include current “restricted firearms”, as well as all center-fire semi-automatic shotguns and rifles, other than .22 rimfire rifles.
As a result of re-classification to “circumscribed firearms”, all semi-automatic shotguns and rifles will become illegal for hunting purposes.
Except for collection purposes, possession of “circumscribed firearms” will only be allowed at shooting clubs and registered storage facilities. The owner of such a firearm will not even be allowed to transport it himself, or keep it at home.
This bill is meant to come into effect one year after its royal sanction. In essence, firearms owners will have one year to register their semi-auto rifles and shotguns, and find a suitable storage facility (few of which currently exist) to store them, along with their handguns and other restricted/prohibited firearms.
It is quite obvious that one of the goals of this bill is to make ownership of semi-automatic firearms so onerous that people will surrender them to the police to be destroyed.
How a Bill Becomes an Act
In Canada, before a law is enacted, it begins as a bill. Bills originating in the House of Commons are known as government bills. Other types of bills include: private member bills, private senator's bills, public bills or private bills. Government bills are numbered consecutively from C-1 - C-200.
Private member bills are bills introduced in the House of Commons by a member of parliament who is not a cabinet minister. Private senator's bills are introduced in the Senate by a senator who is not a member of the ministry. Private member bills are numbered consecutively from C-201 to C-1000 if introduced in the House of Commons, and S-201 - S-1000 if introduced in the Senate. (Prior to April 2006 when the 39th Parliament opened, all bills originating in the Senate were numbered consecutively beginning at S-1).
First Reading
After a bill has been introduced into Parliament, it is received, printed, and disseminated. Bills are not debated at their first reading.
Second Reading
At the second reading, a bill is debated and the debates are recorded in Hansard. At the end of the debate, a vote is taken to determine whether the bill will proceed to the committee stage or die.
Committee Stage
Following the second reading of a bill, a legislative committee is set up to study the bill in detail. The committee recommends whether a bill should be adopted as-is, amended, or dropped.
Committees are groups of parliamentarians who study and consider legislation under consideration, departmental activities and spending, reports and other documents tabled in the House, order-in-council appointments and other "committee business". Composed of both senators and members of the House of Commons, there are several different types of committees, including: standing, legislative, special and joint, Committees of the Whole and the Liaison Committee.
The Committee of the Whole includes all members of the House of Commons and is chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
Standing Committees are typically composed of 7-11 members who are chosen from parties in proportion to party representation in the House of Commons. Standing Committees are the most important type of government committee.
Legislative Committees are set up to examine legislation following the second reading of a bill. These committees normally have seven members and include backbench members from every party. The committee recommends whether a bill should be adopted as-is, amended, or dropped. See Committees of the House of Commons Homepage, Committees: A Practical Guide or the Canadian Encyclopedia for more information.
Reports Stage
The committee reports the bill to the House, including any proposed amendments, which the House deliberates and then either accepts or rejects through a vote.
Third Reading
At the third reading of a bill, the committee reports the bill to the House with any proposed amendments. The bill is then voted upon by the House, and either "dies" or "passes the House". If it passes, the bill is printed and sent to the Senate.
Royal Assent
When a bill is given Royal Assent, it comes into force and becomes law. Bills must pass both the House of Commons and the Senate before they receive Royal Assent, which is granted by the Governor General. Once a bill comes into force, it becomes an act and is renumbered. The text of a new act is published in the Canada Gazette Part III and later in the Statutes of Canada.
References
Kehoe, I. 2007. How a government bill becomes law. Retrieved from dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Reference/queens-e.html
Stewart, J. n.d. Parliamentary Procedure. In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved from www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/