C-237An Act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act and the Canada Health Act
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on February 7, 2022
- Status
- Defeated at second reading in the House of Commons
What it does
Lets provinces withdraw from some federal programs if they have a comparable provincial program, and exempts Quebec from certain Canada Health Transfer rules.
What it does
- Allows a province to withdraw from a federal program if it has a program with comparable goals, and still receive the same financial contribution it would have received otherwise.
- Defines a federal program as one where the federal government pays money to help meet national goals in an area that provinces can legislate on.
- Exempts Quebec from a rule in the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act that applies to paragraph 24(1)(a).
- Exempts Quebec from the Canada Health Act rule on national criteria and conditions for the Canada Health Transfer, and keeps Quebec eligible for the full cash contribution.
Who it affects
- Provinces
- Quebec
- Federal departments
- Health systems
Topics
Background
The bill adds a new rule on provincial withdrawal to the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act. It also changes the Canada Health Act rules that apply to the Canada Health Transfer.
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-237, An Act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act and the Canada Health Act
Vote 185,
Failed
32 yeato292 nay · 4 paired
Party breakdown for vote 185 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Nay 0 151 7 Conservative Nay 0 113 5 Bloc Yea 32 0 0 NDP Nay 0 24 1 Green Nay 0 2 0 Independent Nay 0 2 0 Total 32 292
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· May 5, 2022
“As I indicated, this is a piece of legislation that I could never support in any sort of circumstance. I guess it is because, offhand, I believe that the constituents of Winnipeg North understand, appreciate and want the federal government to play a strong leadership role on health care in Canada.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeShelby Kramp-Neuman· May 5, 2022
“My good friend from Winnipeg North, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, rose on a point of order to share his concerns about the content of this bill. In his opinion, this bill was actually a spending bill.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocLouis Plamondon· May 5, 2022
“I am very proud to rise today to speak to my bill, Bill C-237, an act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act and the Canada Health Act. The bill addresses the root cause of the tensions and disputes between the federal government and the provinces, Quebec in particular, and that is spending power.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPAlexandre Boulerice· May 5, 2022
“I am pleased to rise in the House to speak to the bill sponsored by the hon. Bloc member for Bécancour—Nicolet—Saurel, the dean of the House. I am a little older than my Conservative colleague who just spoke.”
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.