The majority of government bills are introduced in the House of Commons. From that point on, it is referred to as a law, a statute or an Act of Parliament. Public and Private Bills Public bills relate to matters of public policy such as taxes and spending, health and other social programs, defense and the environment. Those introduced by the Government are called government bills while those introduced by individual parliamentarians are called private members bills. They may affect the public generally or only a certain segment of the population.
Private bills make laws pertaining to the powers and rights of an individual person or organization.
Typically, this kind of bill was used in the past to establish corporations before Parliament delegated the power to create corporations to the Government. Rare in modern times, this type of bill is always founded on a petition to Parliament. At first reading in the Senate, a bill is introduced, printed and circulated so that Senators may acquaint themselves with its provisions prior to the commencement of debate. At second reading , the principles and broad purposes of a bill are debated. Debate begins with an explanation of the bill by the sponsoring Senator.