'Bills C-1 and S-1', are
''pro forma'' bills introduced in the
House of Commons and
Senate at the opening of each session of the
Parliament of Canada. The bills are given a
first reading and are then never proceeded with further. Being ''pro forma'' pieces of legislation, introducing them is mostly a formal tradition. They are introduced each session in the Commons and Senate for the purpose of reassuring the right of Members to depart from the reasons for summoning Parliament contained in the
speech from the Throne, therefore signifying Parliament's freedom from the direction of the
Crown of Canada.
The introduction of a ''pro forma'' bill is a practice that has existed since before
Confederation. It originated in the
British House of Commons in 1571.
In the house, Bill C-1 is normally introduced by the
prime minister and is titled ''An Act respecting the Administration of Oaths of Office'' (
French: '''Projet de loi C-1''', ''Loi concernant la prestation de serments d'office''). In the Senate, Bill S-1 is titled ''An Act relating to Railways''.
Status of the bill in the 39th Parliament
Bill C-1 was introduced on
4 April,
2006, by
The Right Hon. Stephen Harper,
P.C.,
M.P., seconded by
The Hon. Lawrence Cannon, P.C., M.P., and accordingly, was read a first time. Bill C-1 is a largely incomplete piece of legislation, and Canadian convention dictates that, as a ''pro forma'' piece of legislation, it will not be proceeded with further.
See also
★
Outlawries Bill
★
Select Vestries Bill