S-242An Act to amend the Radiocommunication Act
Senate public bill, introduced in the Senate on March 23, 2022
- Status
- Defeated at second reading in the House of Commons
- Sponsor
- Dennis Glen PattersonSenator
- Senator
What it does
Requires certain spectrum licence holders to provide service to at least 50% of the population in their licence area within three years.
What it does
- Requires holders of licences issued under subparagraph 5(1)(a)(i.1) to deploy the spectrum to provide service to at least 50% of the population in the licence area within three years.
- Requires holders using radio frequencies in a Tier 1 to 4 service area to provide service to at least 50% of the population in any Tier 5 service areas inside the licence area within three years.
- Requires anyone selling one of these licences within three years to make the service condition part of the sale.
- Allows the Minister to revoke a licence for not meeting the service condition, after written notice and a chance to respond.
- Requires the Minister to reissue a revoked or surrendered licence through competitive bidding or another reallocation process within 60 days, and bars the revoked holder and its affiliates from that process.
Who it affects
- Spectrum licence holders
- Wireless service providers
- Licence buyers
- People in licence areas
- Affiliates of licence holders
Background
The bill adds a new condition for licences issued under subparagraph 5(1)(a)(i.1) of the Radiocommunication Act. It also applies to licences already in force when the bill comes into force.
Where it is
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Defeated here. Defeated
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by a senator. If the Senate passes it, it goes to the House of Commons, where an MP must agree to sponsor it. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
2nd reading of Bill S-242, An Act to amend the Radiocommunication Act
Vote 448,
Failed
143 yeato178 nay · 6 paired
Party breakdown for vote 448 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Nay 0 146 12 Conservative Yea 114 0 3 Bloc Nay 0 31 1 NDP Yea 25 0 0 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea1 broke ranks 2 1 0 Total 143 178
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalArielle Kayabaga· September 19, 2023
“I am pleased to see Bill S-242 draw attention to this important issue, and I look forward to studying this matter. Spectrum is a finite public resource and important enabler of economic activity, and Bill S-242 seeks to ensure that unused spectrum is being put to work.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeRyan Williams· September 19, 2023
“This bill is for rural Canada to ensure that when Canada gives a public utility resource like spectrum or spectrum licensing to a company, the company uses the spectrum to connect rural parts of this country and its over seven million people to high-speed Internet.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocSébastien Lemire· September 19, 2023
“If a promoter is only required to connect a minimum of 50% of the population, as the bill states, they will favour the most profitable areas of the spectrum. This will leave a large number of citizens without cell coverage, creating second-class citizens, as was the case with Internet coverage until recently.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPBrian Masse· September 19, 2023
“This bill stops one of the worst practices we have. I really want to thank Senator Patterson for this.”
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.