C-219Canadian Environmental Bill of Rights
An Act to enact the Canadian Environmental Bill of Rights and to make related amendments to other Acts
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on December 16, 2021
- Status
- Defeated at second reading in the House of Commons
What it does
Creates federal environmental rights, lets residents seek investigations and court action over environmental harm, and adds anti-reprisal protections.
What it does
- Creates rights for people living in Canada to a healthy and ecologically balanced environment, access to environmental information, public participation, access to courts or tribunals, and requests for reviews of environmental laws and policies.
- Lets residents ask a responsible minister to investigate alleged offences under environmental Acts, other than the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, and requires acknowledgement, investigation, and progress reports.
- Allows residents to bring environmental protection actions for significant harm, or likely significant harm, to the environment, and gives courts powers to order restraint, corrective plans, environmental payments, and other relief, but not damages.
- Amends the Auditor General Act so residents can petition for reviews of environmental laws, instruments, or policies, and amends the Federal Courts Act to let non directly affected people seek judicial review in environmental cases if conditions are met.
- Adds an offence for employers who punish employees for using the bill’s rights or giving information or evidence, with a maximum fine of $25,000.
- Amends the Canadian Bill of Rights to say the right to life, liberty and security of the person includes the right to a healthy and ecologically balanced environment.
Who it affects
- People living in Canada
- Federal ministers
- Courts and tribunals
- Auditor General
- Attorney General of Canada
- Public service employers
- Employees who raise environmental concerns
Background
The bill says nothing in it affects the rights of Indigenous peoples protected by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Defeated here. Defeated
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Senate
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by an MP who is not a minister. These bills compete in a lottery for debate time, and most do not become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
2nd reading of Bill C-219, An Act to enact the Canadian Environmental Bill of Rights and to make related amendments to other Acts
Vote 480,
Failed
54 yeato257 nay · 14 paired
Party breakdown for vote 480 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Nay1 broke ranks 1 146 11 Conservative Nay 0 110 7 Bloc Yea 28 0 4 NDP Yea 24 0 1 Green Yea 1 0 1 Independent Nay 0 1 2 Total 54 257
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalKevin Lamoureux· June 14, 2023
“I appreciate the member bringing forward Bill C-219. As he is indicated on several occasions, this is legislation that, with a different bill number, has been before the House in the past.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeGérard Deltell· June 14, 2023
“The bill introduced by our NDP colleague deserves our attention. First of all, we feel that the key element of this bill is that it ensures that people can live in a healthy environment.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocMonique Pauzé· June 14, 2023
“At first glance, the bill seems to be well thought out and drafted, with its preamble clearly setting the context for this desire to include real access to the courts as part of the enforcement of the right to a healthy environment.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPRichard Cannings· June 14, 2023
“It is with great pride that I stand in the chamber this evening to begin debate on my bill, Bill C-219, the Canadian environmental bill of rights. I first want to thank Linda Duncan, the author of this bill, who introduced it on four occasions over 11 years during her time as the member of Parliament for Edmonton Strathcona.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Bill defeated. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.