S-5Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act
An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, to make related amendments to the Food and Drugs Act and to repeal the Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Virtual Elimination Act
Government bill, introduced in the Senate on February 9, 2022
- Status
- Became law on June 13, 2023 · S.C. 2023, c. 12
- Sponsor
- Marc GoldSenator
- Senator
What it does
Bill S-5 would add a right to a healthy environment under federal environmental law, change how toxic substances are assessed and managed, and add environmental risk rules for some drugs.
What it does
- Recognizes that every person in Canada has a right to a healthy environment under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, and requires the federal government to protect that right while balancing relevant factors.
- Requires an implementation framework, plus research, studies, or monitoring, to explain how that right will be considered when the Act is administered.
- Changes how substances are listed and assessed, including letting the Environment Minister add some substances to the Domestic Substances List, remove them when they are no longer in commerce, and compile a list of suspected or known toxic substances.
- Requires the Environment and Health ministers to set priorities for assessing substances, consider vulnerable populations and combined exposures, and give priority to banning or restricting toxic substances in Schedule 1.
- Expands powers for regulation, information gathering, pollution prevention, confidentiality, and significant new activity notices, including new rules when substances are transferred to someone else.
- Adds rules to assess and manage environmental risks from certain drugs, and repeals the Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Virtual Elimination Act.
Who it affects
- People in Canada
- Environment and Health ministers
- Chemical and substance manufacturers
- Drug manufacturers
- Businesses dealing with listed substances
- People or companies seeking confidentiality under CEPA
Background
The bill amends the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and makes related changes to the Food and Drugs Act.
Where it is
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Completed.
Introduced by a cabinet minister on behalf of the government. Government bills get set time for debate, so they are the most likely to become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
3rd reading and adoption of Bill S-5, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, to make related amendments to the Food and Drugs Act and to repeal the Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Virtual Elimination Act
Vote 338,
Passed
208 yeato116 nay
Party breakdown for vote 338 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 150 0 6 Conservative Nay 0 114 1 Bloc Yea 32 0 0 NDP Yea 24 0 1 Green Nay 0 2 0 Independent Yea 2 0 1 Total 208 116 Bill S-5, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, to make related amendments to the Food and Drugs Act and to repeal the Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Virtual Elimination Act (recommittal to a committee)
Vote 337,
Failed
114 yeato210 nay
Party breakdown for vote 337 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Nay 0 149 7 Conservative Yea1 broke ranks 113 1 1 Bloc Nay 0 32 0 NDP Nay 0 24 1 Green Nay 0 2 0 Independent Nay1 broke ranks 1 2 0 Total 114 210 Concurrence at report stage of Bill S-5, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, to make related amendments to the Food and Drugs Act and to repeal the Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Virtual Elimination Act
Vote 326,
Passed
309 yeato2 nay · 12 paired
Party breakdown for vote 326 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 145 0 11 Conservative Yea 109 0 6 Bloc Yea 29 0 3 NDP Yea 23 0 2 Green Nay 0 2 0 Independent Yea 3 0 0 Total 309 2 Bill S-5, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, to make related amendments to the Food and Drugs Act and to repeal the Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Virtual Elimination Act (report stage amendment)
Vote 325,
Failed
55 yeato256 nay · 12 paired
Party breakdown for vote 325 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Nay 0 145 11 Conservative Nay 0 109 6 Bloc Yea 29 0 3 NDP Yea 23 0 2 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Nay1 broke ranks 1 2 0 Total 55 256 Bill S-5, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, to make related amendments to the Food and Drugs Act and to repeal the Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Virtual Elimination Act (report stage amendment)
Vote 324,
Passed
201 yeato109 nay · 12 paired
Party breakdown for vote 324 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 144 0 12 Conservative Nay 0 109 6 Bloc Yea 29 0 3 NDP Yea 23 0 2 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 3 0 0 Total 201 109 Time allocation for Bill S-5, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, to make related amendments to the Food and Drugs Act and to repeal the Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Virtual Elimination Act
Vote 321,
Passed
168 yeato142 nay · 12 paired
Party breakdown for vote 321 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 143 0 13 Conservative Nay 0 110 5 Bloc Nay 0 28 4 NDP Yea 24 0 1 Green Nay 0 2 0 Independent Nay1 broke ranks 1 2 0 Total 168 142 2nd reading of Bill S-5, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, to make related amendments to the Food and Drugs Act and to repeal the Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Virtual Elimination Act
Vote 210,
Passed
320 yeato0 nay
Party breakdown for vote 210 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 149 0 9 Conservative Yea 111 0 7 Bloc Yea 32 0 0 NDP Yea 24 0 1 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 2 0 0 Total 320 0
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalTerry Duguid· October 7, 2022
“I am very pleased today to rise in support of Bill S-5. My remarks will focus on the government's accomplishments under its chemicals management plan, commonly known as CMP.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeAndrew Scheer· October 7, 2022
“It is my distinct honour to be able to speak to Bill S-5 today. I thought I would start off my remarks by pointing out the major differences between the Conservative record on the environment and the Liberal record on the environment.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocMonique Pauzé· October 18, 2022
“The senators received the bill on February 9, and they finished their study on June 22. It goes without saying that they proposed amendments.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPRichard Cannings· October 18, 2022
“I am happy to say that Bill S-5 provides a step in that direction. The preamble of CEPA will now include the following statement: “Whereas the Government of Canada recognizes that every individual in Canada has a right to a healthy environment as provided under this Act”.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caGreenElizabeth May· October 24, 2022
“As tempting as it is to engage in a discussion of a thousand-year record drought, I want to stick to Bill S-5 and its impacts. I have a close history and connection to the bill, and I want to ask the hon. member for Cypress Hills—Grasslands if he is aware of how deeply this bill is embedded in his own party.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Royal assent received. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.