A bill that makes legislative changes required to ratify a free trade agreement with Israel is set to be law after being adopted in the Senate.

Legislation that updates Canada’s access-to-information laws, Bill C-58, has also been adopted in the Senate with amendments, and will now return to the House of Commons for review.

Bill C-85, which allows Canada to take the necessary steps to formally ratify the modernized Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement, was adopted on Thursday and is awaiting Royal Assent.

“Since the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement entered into force in 1997, this two-way merchandise trade agreement between the two countries has more than tripled, totalling more than $1.7 billion in 2017,” said Senator Howard Wetston, the bill’s sponsor, during a speech in the Red Chamber.

“Bill C-85 intends to modernize this successful partnership so that it better serves the Canada-Israel trading relationship, while ensuring its benefits are more widely shared.”

Bill C-71, which delivers on the current Government’s election promise to prevent and reduce gun violence, remains at third reading in the Senate.

Bill C-81, which aims to enhance the full and equal participation of all persons, especially persons with disabilities, in society, is awaiting third reading following an in-depth study at the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.

Committee study continues

The committee studies of eight Government bills are well underway, including:

Bill C-48, which formalizes a heavy oil tanker ban on Canada’s north Pacific coast, is at the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications.

Bill C-59, which enhances Canada’s national security, is at the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence.

Bill C-68, which restores protections for Canada’s freshwater and marine fisheries, is at the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.

Bill C-69, which improves the rules for the assessment of major projects, is at the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources.

Bill C-75, which aims to reduce delays in criminal proceedings and eliminate peremptory jury charges, is at the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.

Bill C-77, legislation that would give new rights to victims of service offences, is at the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence.

Bill C-78, which changes federal family laws, is at the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.

Bill C-83, which overhauls Canada’s current system of segregation in prisons, is at the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.

Meanwhile, Bill C-82, to implement a multilateral tax treaty, arrived in the Senate last week and remains at second reading.

Bill C-84, legislation that broadens the scope of three criminal offences in order to prohibit certain activities related to bestiality and animal fighting, arrived in the Senate on Thursday and awaits second reading.

The Senate is adjourned until Monday at 6 p.m.