Nursing and the Political Agenda

Canada’s Parliamentary System

Government Legislation

• Issue identification.
• Drafting of discussion papers.
• Internal and external consultations.
• Preparation of cabinet documentation.
• Consideration by cabinet committee.
• Drafting of the bill.
• Tabling of the bill in Parliament or the legislature.
• Debate of a bill takes place during three “readings.” First reading is in either the House of Commons or Senate. It is during second reading that changes and amendments to bills are proposed, and input is invited from expert witnesses, representatives of affected stakeholders and the public. This is normally done through a parliamentary (or legislature) committee. Third reading is when the amendments to the bill are voted on in the House of Commons (or Senate).
• Introduction of the bill into the other House of Commons (repetition of the process).
• Report stage is when the bill returns to the House of Commons with the amendments from the House of Commons process and the Senate process.
• Royal assent (the bill becomes law).