1st Session, 36th Parliament,
46-47 Elizabeth II, 1997-98

The House of Commons of Canada

BILL C-456

An Act to protect Personal Privacy by restricting the use of Social Insurance Numbers

R.S., c. P-21; R.S., cc. 22, 27, 44, 46 (1st Supp.), cc. 8, 19, 20 (2nd Supp.), cc. 1, 3, 18, 20, 24, 28 (3rd Supp.), cc. 1, 7, 10, 11, 21, 28, 31, 41, 47 (4th Supp.); 1989, cc. 3, 27; 1990, cc. 1, 3, 13; 1991, cc. 3, 6, 16, 38; 1992, cc. 1, 21, 33, 37, 44; 1993, cc. 1, 3, 28, 31, 34; 1994, cc. 26, 31, 35, 38, 41, 43; 1995, cc. 1, 5, 11, 12, 18, 29, 45; 1996, cc. 8, 9, 10, 11, 16; 1997, cc. 6, 9, 20

      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 Protection of Privacy (Social Insurance Numbers) Act.

INTERPRETATION

Interpreta-
tion

2. The definitions in this section apply in this Act.

``federal body''
« organisme fédéral »

``federal body'' means any ministry, department, board, commission, person, regulatory agency, tribunal, advisory council, office or other body that exercises jurisdiction or powers on behalf of Her Majesty in right of Canada or under the authority of an Act of Parliament.

``Social Insurance Number''
« numéro d'assurance social »

``Social Insurance Number'' means a number assigned to a person under a law of Canada and intended to be used by a federal body as a file number or account number or for data processing purposes.

DISCLOSURE

Right not to disclose

3. No person is required to disclose that person's Social Insurance Number, except where that disclosure is specifically required by law.

Prohibition on requesting disclosure

4. (1) No one shall request that a person disclose the person's Social Insurance Number unless,

    (a) the request is specifically authorized by law; or

    (b) the person making the request notifies the person to whom the request is directed, in writing, that it is not necessary to comply with the request.

Saving

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a peace officer who requests the disclosure of a Social Insurance Number in good faith in the course of an investigation.

Offence

(3) Every one who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and is liable:

    (a) in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding $10,000; or

    (b) in the case of a corporation, to a fine not exceeding $100,000.

COMING INTO FORCE

Coming into force

5. This Act comes into force six months after it receives Royal Assent.