Script

Second Reading

During second reading, a bill is subjected to a thorough debate for the first time. The opposition is able to criticize both the underlying policy that the bill expresses and its specific purpose. The Government then defends it.

[If you have chosen the Youth Electors Bill it will be referred to the Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs; if the Classroom Harmony Bill (Social Media Bill), the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage; if the National Essential Services Bill, the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology. If you have prepared a new bill, determine the standing committee to which it should be referred.]

Key Players

In the Senate: Speaker, Government Leader, Leader of the Opposition Party, senators
In the House of Commons: Speaker, Clerk, Leader of the Opposition, a Cabinet minister, MPs

Simulation

In the Senate:

Speaker: "Orders of the Day. Government Orders. Senator (surname of Government Leader)."
Government Leader: [Stand.] "Honourable Senators, I move that Bill S- ... (name of bill) be read for a second time." [Sit.]
Speaker: [Stand.] "It is moved by Senator (surname of Government Leader) seconded by Senator (surname of seconder) that this bill be read the second time." [Sit.]; [The Government Leader will speak for about 10 minutes on the purpose of the bill and why it should be read for a second time then sits.]
Speaker: "Senator (surname of the Leader of the Opposition)."
Leader of the Opposition: [Stand.] "Honourable Senators, I must speak against Bill S- ... as this legislation will ..." [Sit.]; [The Leader of the Opposition Party in the Senate will speak for about 10 minutes about why the bill is flawed and why it should not be read for a second time. The Speaker then allows senators for and against the bill to speak for about 15 minutes each. Senators stand to indicate their desire to speak; when the Speaker selects a senator, the other senators must be seated.]
Speaker: "Senator (surname)."
Senator: [Stand.] "Honourable Senators, I rise to speak in support of Bill S- ..., an Act which will ..." [Sit.]
Speaker: "Senator (surname)."
Senator: [Stand.] "Honourable Senators, I most strongly disagree with Senator (surname). Bill S- ... will not ..." [Sit.]; [Debate continues until no further senator wishes to speak about it.]
Speaker: [Stand.] "It was moved by Senator (surname), seconded by Senator(surname), that this bill be read a second time. Is it your pleasure, Honourable Senators, to adopt this motion?"
Some Senators: "Agreed." (Government senators); [Simultaneously]
Some Senators: "No." (Opposition senators)
Speaker: "All those in favour of the motion will please say yea."
Some Senators: "Yea." (Government senators)
Speaker: "All those opposed will please say nay."
Some Senators: "Nay." (Opposition senators)
Speaker: "In my opinion the yeas have it."; [In reality, the Clerk says the following line. For simplicity's sake, we have omitted the Clerk's role, so the Speaker will say it.]; [Stand.] "Second reading of this bill. When shall this bill be read the third time?"
Government Leader: [Stand.] "I move that the bill be referred to the Standing Committee on ..."; [Speaker and Government Leader sit.]; [The motion is deemed agreed to. If at least two senators stand to signify they want a recorded vote, however, the Speaker will say, "Call in the Senators." The bells will ring to summon the senators for a recorded vote.]

In the House of Commons:

Speaker: "Government Orders."
Clerk: "Second reading of Bill C- ... (name of bill)”
Speaker: "The Honourable Minister of (name of Cabinet position) [Minister nods to Speaker.] seconded by the Minister of (name of Cabinet position) moves that Bill C- ... (name of bill) be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on ..."; [The Speaker recognizes the minister moving the motion.]
Speaker: "The Honourable Minister of (name of Cabinet position)."
Minister: [Stand.] "Thank you Mr. Speaker. Bill C- ..., an Act to ..."; [The minister will speak for about three minutes on the purpose of the bill and why it should be read for a second time. Then sit.]
Speaker: "The Honourable Leader of the Official Opposition."
Leader of the Official Opposition: [Stand.] "Mr./Madam Speaker, I must speak against Bill C- ... as this legislation will ..."; [The Leader of the Official Opposition will speak for about three minutes about why the bill is flawed, and why it should not be read for a second time. Then sit.]; [The Speaker then allows MPs for and against the bill to speak for about one to two minutes each. MPs rise to indicate their desire to speak, and when the Speaker selects an MP, the other MPs must be seated. For example, if an MP has spoken on the motion for second reading, he or she may not speak again unless an amendment is moved. An amendment is a new question and that same MP could, therefore, speak again.]
Speaker: "The Member for (name of riding)."
MP: [Stand.] "Mr./Madam Speaker, I rise to speak in support of Bill C- ... because ..." [Sit.]
Speaker: "The Member for (name of riding)."
MP: [Stand.] "Mr./Madam Speaker, I most strongly disagree with the Member for (Name of riding of previous speaker). Bill C- ... will not ..." [Sit.]; [An opposition MP can propose an amendment to the motion for second reading. See the background lesson: How a Bill Becomes a Law, for the types of amendment that are allowed at this point.]
Speaker: "The Member for (name of riding)."
MP: [Stand.] "Mr./Madam Speaker, I move that Bill C- ... be amended by ..." [Sit.]
Speaker: "It has been moved by the Member for (name of riding) seconded by the Member for (name of riding) that Bill C- ..., an Act to ... be amended by ... Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the amendment? Debate?"; [The amendment is then debated until no further MPs wish to speak about it; the Speaker will then invite the MPs to verbally vote on the amendment.]
Speaker: "Is the House ready for the question?"
Speaker: "The Member for (name of riding of MP who originally proposed the amendment), seconded by the Honourable Member for (name of riding of MP who originally seconded the amendment), has moved that Bill C- ... be amended by ... Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt this amendment?"
Some MPs: "Agreed." (Opposition MPs in favour of the amendment); [Simultaneously]
Some MPs: "No. " (Government MPs opposed to the amendment)
Speaker: "All those in favour of the motion (the amendment) will please say yea."
Some MPs: "Yea." (Opposition MPs)
Speaker: "All those opposed will please say nay."
Some MPs: "Nay." (Government MPs)
Speaker: "In my opinion the nays (or yeas) have it."; [Debate resumes on the motion for second reading of the bill. If the amendment has been defeated, or if no one further wishes to speak, the Speaker will put the bill to a verbal vote.]
Speaker: "It has been moved by the Minister of (name of Cabinet position) seconded by the Minister of (name of Cabinet position) that Bill C- ..., an Act to ..., be read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on ... Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt this motion?"
Some MPs: "Agreed." (Government MPs); [Simultaneously]
Some MPs: "No." (Opposition MPs)
Speaker: "All those in favour of the motion will please say yea."
Some MPs: "Yea." (Government MPs)
Speaker: "All those opposed will please say nay."
Some MPs: "Nay." (Opposition MPs)
Speaker: "In my opinion the yeas have it."; [The motion is agreed to, and the bill is referred to the appropriate standing committee. However, if at least five MPs stand to signify they want a recorded vote, the Speaker will say "Call in the Members." The bells will ring to summon MPs for a recorded vote.]