Bill 32 (The Defamation Consequential Amendments Act, 2025)
Second Reading

From Hansard (5 November 2025)

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Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you yet again, Mr. Speaker. I rise to move second reading of The Defamation Consequential Amendments Act, 2025.

Mr. Speaker, the proposed bilingual bill makes consequential amendments to bilingual Acts that refer to libel and slander to align that legislation with the new defamation Act. The references to libel and slander in the following Acts will be updated to refer instead to the defamation action: The Jury Act, 1998; The Legislative Assembly Act, 2007; and The Small Claims Act, 2016.

Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to move second reading of The Defamation Consequential Amendments Act, 2025.

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Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs and Justice
From Hansard (13 April 2026)

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Clause 1

Chair B. McLeod: — And then we will next consider Bill No. 32, The Defamation Consequential Amendments Act, 2025, which is a bilingual bill, beginning with consideration of clause 1, short title. So, Minister McLeod, please make your opening comments.

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. My comments will be brief. Staying with me at the table are Mr. McGovern, K.C. and Ms. Markatos, K.C.

Simply regarding Bill 32, The Defamation Consequential Amendments Act, 2025, this Act amends three bilingual Acts that reference libel and slander. In each case the Acts will be amended to refer to defamation instead of libel and slander, as The Libel and Slander Act is being repealed and replaced with the new defamation Act.

There is no change in substance to any of the Acts amended by this bill. The new defamation Act will define “defamation” to include both libel and slander, reflecting the approach taken in most other Canadian jurisdictions as I mentioned earlier.

Mr. Chair, with those remarks, I welcome any questions respecting Bill 32, The Defamation Consequential Amendments Act, 2025.

Chair B. McLeod: — Thank you, Minister. I will now open the floor to questions. MLA Sarauer.

Nicole Sarauer: — Thank you, Mr. Chair. The bill before us is administrative. I put my questions on the record in relation to the substantive bill, so I have no further questions.

Chair B. McLeod: — Seeing no more questions, we will proceed to vote on the clauses. Clause 1, short title, is that agreed?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Chair B. McLeod: — Carried.

[Clause 1 agreed to.]

[Clauses 2 to 5 inclusive agreed to.]

Chair B. McLeod: — His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, enacts as follows: The Defamation Consequential Amendments Act, 2025, a bilingual bill.

I would ask a member to move that we report Bill No. 32, The Defamation Consequential Amendments Act, 2025, a bilingual bill, without amendment. MLA Crassweller moves. Is that agreed?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Chair B. McLeod: — Carried. Any closing comments by the minister?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Just briefly, Mr. Chair, I’ll thank yourself and the committee, thank Ms. Sarauer for her questions, and of course my wonderful team that surrounds me each and every day.

Mr. McGovern, K.C. and Ms. Markatos, K.C., who I think will not be straying far, as all of us I think are pitted in here for the next couple of hours. And looking forward to that, Mr. Chair. So thank you to everyone.

Chair B. McLeod: — Any closing comments from members?

Nicole Sarauer: — I’d like to join with the minister in thanking yourself, Mr. Chair, and the committee, as well as the committee staff. And then thank you, Minister, for answering my questions and of course to your officials for their work every day. Your chief of staff as well; I would be remiss if I didn’t include him. Hansard and broadcast services as well, just thank you.

Chair B. McLeod: — Thank you very much, appreciate that. We’re going to move directly into the next section where we’ll consideration of the 2026 estimates. Any recess or change of officials required just real quickly?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Very briefly, thank you, Mr. Chair.

Chair B. McLeod: — Okay, thank you then. We’ll just recess for a few moments to get the officials changed up.

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