ABSTRACT
(4) Cabinet Approval of Bill Once a Bill has been drafted and approved by the responsible Minister, the Legislation Section of the Department of Justice will arrange for its printing and for copies to be sent to the Legislation and House Planning Secretariat for distribution to Ministers, prior to the meeting of the Legislation and House Planning Committee of Cabinet. It is the responsibility of the sponsoring department or agency to prepare a brief summary, preferably on one page, in each official language, stating the intent of the draft Bill and highlighting its main provisions. The summary should also mention any provisions in the draft Bill that constitute significant divergences from the policy approved by Cabinet. This summary will be distributed to Ministers together with the draft Bill. Accordingly, the typed original of the summary should be sent to the Legislation and House Planning Secretariat by the sponsoring department or agency to arrive not later than the final printed version of the draft Bill. No particular format for the summary is prescribed; what is essential is that it be clear and brief. Prior to the consideration of the Bill by the Legislation and House Planning Committee, the sponsoring department or agency is required to submit to the Communications Committee of Cabinet a revised or updated communications plan if the original attached to the Memorandum to Cabinet that sought policy approval for the Bill is no longer timely. The strategy should deal with information requirements upon First Reading and during consideration by Parliament. It should include a summary of the Bill, which may appropriately be based on the summary for Ministers described above, amended as necessary for the purpose of public distribution. When these requirements have been met, the Cabinet Committee on Legislation and House Planning, assisted by the sponsoring Minister, will scrutinise the Bill as to its drafting and as to its consistency with the earlier policy decision taken by Cabinet. The Committee will also consider the Minister’s recommendation as to whether the Bill should be introduced in the House of Commons or in the Senate. The Cabinet Committee on Legislation and House Planning reports to Cabinet on the outcome of its consideration of a given draft Bill. Following Cabinet’s approval, the Legislation and House Planning Secretariat submits the Bill in its final form to the Prime Minister for his signature, or, in his absence, to the Acting Prime Minister or the President of the Privy Council, together with the royal recommendation in the case of Bills that require expenditure. The preparation of royal recommendations is taken care of by the Legislation and House Planning Secretariat.
