How is a bill passed into law in Canada?

A federal bill becomes law in Canada through a multi-stage process involving both houses of Parliament and the Crown. A bill is introduced in either the House of Commons (the lower chamber) or the Senate (the upper chamber). Most government bills are introduced in the House of Commons; some Senate-initiated bills begin in the upper chamber. Bills that involve the spending of public money or the imposition of taxes must originate in the House of Commons under section 53 of the Constitution Act, 1867 (the Money Bills rule).

Each bill must pass three readings in each chamber. First reading is largely formal: the bill is introduced, given a number, and ordered printed. Second reading involves debate on the principle of the bill, followed by a vote. If approved, the bill is referred to a standing or special committee for detailed clause-by-clause study, including witness hearings. The committee reports the bill back, with or without amendments. Third reading is the final vote on the bill as amended. The bill is then sent to the other chamber, which repeats the three-reading process.

Once both chambers have passed identical text, the bill is presented to the Governor General for Royal Assent. Royal Assent is the constitutional act that transforms a bill into a statute of Canada. The Governor General almost always grants Royal Assent as a matter of constitutional convention; the last refusal of Royal Assent in any Westminster jurisdiction was in 1937 in Australia (or arguably 1707 in the United Kingdom). Royal Assent ceremonies are held in the Senate Chamber, with the Governor General (or Deputy Governor General) signifying assent by reading a brief formal declaration.

Most statutes also need to be brought into force, which can be done in the Act itself ('this Act comes into force on Royal Assent') or by separate Order in Council on a later date. Some statutes have provisions that come into force on different dates. The Public Statutes of Canada are published annually as the Statutes of Canada (S.C.) and are consolidated into the Revised Statutes of Canada (R.S.C.) periodically (most recently in 1985). Provincial bills follow a similar process in each provincial Legislative Assembly, with the Lieutenant Governor granting Royal Assent. Bills that fail to pass before Parliament dissolves or prorogues die on the order paper and must be reintroduced in the next session.