Bill C-226

1st Session, 40th Parliament,

57 Elizabeth II, 2008

house of commons of canada

BILL C-226

An Act to propose and examine a program giving financial assistance to high-school students visiting military memorial sites abroad

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

SHORT TITLE

1. This Act may be cited as the Assistance to Students Visiting Military Memorial Sites Abroad Act.

INTERPRETATION

2. In this Act, “Minister” means the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

PREPARATION OF REPORT

3. (1) The Minister shall, in consultation with

(a) the Canadian Forces,

(b) the Royal Canadian Legion,

(c) the Canadian Merchant Navy Veterans Association Incorporated,

(d) the National Council of Veterans Associations,

(e) any other association of war veterans that the Minister designates,

(f) representatives of ministers of the Crown responsible for education in every province, and

(g) such other persons or organizations as the Minister designates,

prepare a report that proposes a program to assist students attending a high school in Canada who are travelling as part of a group to visit sites abroad that memorialize the service and sacrifice of members of the Canadian Forces, members of the merchant navy and civilians who served, suffered injury or died in past wars and conflicts.

(2) The report shall include recommendations as to

(a) whether qualifications should be established for participation in the program;

(b) whether the program should have a specified educational element; and

(c) what proportion of the cost of such a visit should be paid from public funds.

REPORT TO PARLIAMENT

4. The Minister shall cause the report described in section 3 to be laid before each House of Parliament not later than the fifth day on which that House is sitting following the first anniversary of the day on which this Act comes into force.

5. On being laid before a House of Parliament, the report shall be automatically referred to the standing committee of the House that normally deals with veterans’ affairs for consideration and report to the House.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER

6. After the standing committee of each House of Parliament has made a report under section 5 and the House has considered the report, or has sat for 50 days after receiving the report, whichever occurs first, the Minister shall make a statement to the House of Commons announcing the steps that will be taken to establish and fund the program or giving reasons why the program will not be established, and shall cause a copy of the statement to be laid before the Senate.