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Bill C-2

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(4) Section 114 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (4):

Exception

(4.1) Subsections (2) and (4) do not apply in respect of changes under subsection 113.1(11) to benefits or contribution rates.

R.S., c. 30 (2nd Supp.), s. 58, c. 18 (3rd Supp.), s. 32

96. (1) Subsection 115(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Chief Actuary to report every three years

115. (1) The Chief Actuary of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions shall, during the first year of each three year period for which a review is required by subsection 113.1(1) , prepare a report setting out, as at a date not earlier than December 31 of the year before the three year period, the results of an actuarial examination of the operation of this Act based on the state of the Canada Pension Plan Account and the invest ments of the Investment Board.

Contents of report

(1.1) The Chief Actuary shall, in the report,

    (a) state the estimated revenues of the Canada Pension Plan Account and the estimated investment income of the Invest ment Board for each of the 30 years immediately following the date of the examination, and the estimated amount of all payments under subsection 108(3) in each of those 30 years;

    (b) state , for each fifth year of a period of not less than 75 years from the date of the examination, an estimate of the percentage of total contributory salaries and wages and contributory self-employed earnings that would be required to provide for all pay ments under subsection 108(3) in that year if there were no balance in the Canada Pension Plan Account at the commence ment of that year and the Investment Board had no investments;

    (c) specify a contribution rate, calculated in the prescribed manner, in respect of self- employed persons for years after the 3 year period in which the report is prepared; and

    (d) set out the manner in which that contribution rate was calculated.

Relationship between rates

(1.2) For the purpose of the calculation referred to in paragraph (1.1)(c),

    (a) the contribution rate for employees and employers for a year must be identical; and

    (b) the contribution rate for self-employed persons for a year must be equal to the sum of the contribution rates for employees and employers for that year.

Application of subsection 114(4)

(1.3) Subsection 114(4) applies, with such modifications as the circumstances require, to the making of the regulations prescribing the manner of the calculation referred to in paragraph (1.1)(c) and to the making of any regulation changing that manner of calcula tion.

R.S., c. 30 (2nd Supp.), s. 58

(2) Subsections 115(3) to (7) of the Act are repealed.

R.S., c. 30 (2nd Supp.), s. 59

97. The heading before section 116 and sections 116 and 117 of the Act are replaced by the following:

Annual Report to Parliament and the Provinces

Annual report to be made by Ministers

117. (1) The Minister of Finance and the Minister of Human Resources Development shall, as soon as possible after the end of each fiscal year, together prepare a report on the administration of this Act during that year, including

    (a) the annual financial statements for that year prepared under section 112 and the report of the Auditor General of Canada on those statements;

    (b) the number of contributors during that year and the number of persons to whom benefits were payable during that year; and

    (c) any other information that the Ministers, and the appropriate provincial Ministers of the participating provinces, as defined in section 2 of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act, consider appropri ate.

Tabling in Parliament

(2) The Ministers shall cause the report to be laid before each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the report is prepared.

Presentation to provinces

(3) As soon as possible after the report is prepared, the Ministers shall send the report to the appropriate provincial Minister of every province.

1991, c. 44, s. 28

98. The schedule to the Act is replaced by the schedule set out in the schedule to this Act.

Subsection 114(2) does not apply

99. Subsection 114(2) of the Canada Pension Plan does not apply in respect of the amendments to that Act contained in this Act.

R.S., c. O-9; R.S., c. 34 (1st Supp.), cc. 1, 51 (4th Supp.); 1990, c. 39; 1991, c. 44; 1992, cc. 24, 48; 1995, c. 33; 1996, cc. 11, 18, 21, 23

AMENDMENTS TO THE OLD AGE SECURITY ACT

1995, c. 33, s. 16

100. (1) Subsection 27.1(1) of the Old Age Security Act is replaced by the following:

Request for reconside-
ration by Minister

27.1 (1) A person who is dissatisfied with a decision or determination made under this Act that no benefit may be paid to the person, or respecting the amount of a benefit that may be paid to the person, may, within ninety days after the day on which the person is notified in writing of the decision or determination, or within any longer period that the Minister may, either before or after the expiration of those ninety days, allow, make a request to the Minister in the prescribed form and manner for a reconsideration of that decision or determination.

Reconside-
ration - penalty

(1.1) A person against whom a penalty has been assessed under section 44.1 or, subject to the regulations, any person on their behalf, who is dissatisfied with the decision to impose a penalty or with the amount of the penalty may, within ninety days after the day on which the person is notified in writing of the decision or determination, or within any longer period that the Minister may, either before or after the expiration of those ninety days, allow, request the Minister in the prescribed form and manner to reconsider the decision or deter mination.

1995, c. 33, s. 16

(2) Subsection 27.1(2) of the English version of the Act is replaced by the following:

Decision of Minister

(2) The Minister shall, without delay after receiving a request referred to in subsection (1) or (1.1) , reconsider the decision or deter mination, as the case may be, and may confirm or vary it and may approve payment of a benefit, determine the amount of a benefit or determine that no benefit is payable, and shall without delay notify, in writing , the person who made the request of the Minister's decision and of the reasons for it .

1995, c. 33, s. 16

101. Subsection 28(1) of the Act is re placed by the following:

Appeal re benefits

28. (1) A person who makes a request under subsection 27.1(1) or (1.1) and who is dissatis fied with the decision of the Minister in respect of the request, or, subject to the regulations, any person on their behalf, may appeal the decision to a Review Tribunal established under section 82 of the Canada Pension Plan.

1992, c. 48, s. 29(1); 1995, c. 33, ss. 19, 20; 1996, c. 11, s. 76(2) and par. 97(1)(f) and 101(c), c. 18, par. 58(1)(b), c. 21, s. 74

102. Section 33 of the Act and the heading before it are replaced by the following:

Protection of Personal Information

Definitions

33. (1) The following definitions apply in this section and sections 33.01 to 33.11 and 39.

``administra-
tion''
« mise en oeuvre »

``administration'' includes the development, operation, evaluation and enforcement of policies and programs.

``federal institution''
« institution fédérale »

``federal institution'' means a department or any other body referred to in a schedule to the Financial Administration Act.

``public officer''
« fonction-
naire public
»

``public officer'' means an officer or em ployee of a federal institution, or a pre scribed individual or a member of a pre scribed class of individuals.

Interpreta-
tion

(2) The definition of a word or expression in subsection (1) does not affect its interpretation in any other provision of this Act.

Purpose

(3) This section and sections 33.01 to 33.09 set out the rules that apply to the protection and the making available of information with respect to an individual that was obtained under this Act or prepared under this Act from that information.

Protection of information

33.01 (1) Information with respect to an individual is privileged and shall not be made available except in accordance with this Act.

Availability of information where requested by individual

(2) Information with respect to an individu al may, on request in writing to the Minister by the individual or their representative, be made available to that individual or representative or, on the conditions that may be prescribed, to any person or body named in the request.

Availability of information to individuals and members of Parliament

(3) Information may be made available to an individual or their representative, or to a member of Parliament inquiring on behalf of an individual, if the information is relevant to the making of an application or election, or the receipt of a benefit, by the individual under this Act.

Availability of information for proceedings

(4) Information may be made available for the purpose of civil or criminal proceedings relating to the administration of this Act, including appeals under this Act.

Availability of information within the Department of Human Resources Development

33.02 Information may be made available to the Minister or a public officer of the Department of Human Resources Develop ment or a commissioner of the Canada Employment Insurance Commission for the purpose of the administration of a federal or provincial law or activity.

Availability of information within federal institutions

33.03 (1) Information may be made avail able to a minister or a public officer, other than a public officer of the Department of Human Resources Development,

    (a) for the purpose of the administration of a federal law or activity for which the Minister or the Canada Employment Insur ance Commission is responsible; or

    (b) if the Minister considers it advisable and on any conditions that the Minister may set out, for the purpose of the administration of another federal law or activity or a provin cial law or activity.

Secondary release of information

(2) Information obtained under subsection (1) shall not be made available to any other person or body unless the information is made available only for the same purpose and on any conditions that the Minister may set out.

Exception re war crimes

33.04 (1) Information may be made avail able to the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada for the purpose of investigations, prosecutions and extradition activities in Canada in relation to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Secondary release of information

(2) Information obtained under subsection (1) shall not be made available to any other person or body unless the information is made available for the same purpose.

Availability of information to provincial authorities

33.05 (1) Information may be made avail able to the government of a province, or to a public body created under the law of a province, for the purpose of the administration of a federal or provincial law or activity if the Minister considers it advisable and the infor mation is made available on the conditions set out in an agreement between the Minister and the government or body.

Secondary release of information

(2) Information obtained by a government or public body under subsection (1) shall not be made available to any other person or body unless the Minister considers it advisable and the information is made available only for the same purpose and on the conditions set out in an agreement between the Minister and the government or public body.

Availability of information to certain persons or bodies

33.06 (1) Information may be made avail able to any person or body to whom any of sections 33.01 to 33.05 do not apply, for the purpose of the administration of a federal or provincial law or activity, if the Minister considers it advisable and the information is made available on the conditions set out in an agreement between the Minister and the person or body.

Secondary release of information

(2) Information obtained by a person or body under subsection (1) shall not be made available to any other person or body unless the Minister considers it advisable and the information is made available only for the same purpose and on the conditions set out in an agreement between the Minister and the person or body that obtained the information.

Where Minister may permit information to be made available

33.07 (1) Despite sections 33.01 to 33.06, information may be made available if, in the Minister's opinion, the public interest in disclosure clearly outweighs any invasion of privacy that could result from the disclosure or that permitting the information to be made available would clearly benefit the individual to whom the information relates.

Notice of disclosure

(2) The Minister shall, in writing, notify the Privacy Commissioner appointed under sec tion 53 of the Privacy Act of any disclosure of personal information under subsection (1) before the disclosure if reasonably practicable or, in any other case, without delay on the disclosure, and the Privacy Commissioner may, if the Commissioner deems it appropri ate, notify the individual to whom the infor mation relates of the disclosure.

Evidence and production of documents

33.08 Despite any other Act or law, no public officer shall be required, in connection with any legal proceedings, to give evidence relating to information that is privileged under subsection 33.01(1) or to produce a statement or other writing that contains any such privi leged information unless the Minister consid ers that it is appropriate to do so.

Offence

33.09 (1) Every person or body commits an offence who knowingly makes available in formation that is privileged under this Act, or who knowingly uses or allows such informa tion to be used, otherwise than in accordance with this Act, any condition referred to in section 33.01, 33.03, 33.05 or 33.06 or an agreement referred to in section 33.05, 33.06 or 39.

Punish-
ment - individuals

(2) An individual who contravenes subsec tion (1) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to a fine of not more than $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both.

Punish-
ment - others

(3) A body or a person, other than an individual, who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to a fine of not more than $100,000.

Agreements authorizing the obtention of information

33.1 The Minister may enter into agree ments with federal institutions, governments of provinces or public bodies created under provincial law and other persons or bodies to obtain information for the purposes of the administration of this Act.

Information obtained under other Acts and relative to Social Insurance Numbers

33.11 Despite any other Act or law,

    (a) the Minister of National Revenue or any person designated by that Minister for the purpose may, for any purpose relating to the administration of this Act, make available to the Minister, or to a public officer of the Department of Human Resources Develop ment designated by the Minister for the purpose, a report providing information available to the Minister of National Reve nue with respect to any applicant or benefi ciary or the spouse of any applicant or beneficiary;

    (b) the Minister of Citizenship and Im migration and officers and employees of the Department of Citizenship and Immigra tion may make available to the Minister or a public officer of the Department of Human Resources Development any infor mation that was obtained in the administra tion of the Immigration Act that relates to an applicant, a beneficiary or a spouse of an applicant or beneficiary, if the information is necessary for the administration of this Act; and

    (c) if Social Insurance Numbers have been assigned under the authority of any other Act, the minister or other authority charged with the administration of that Act and the Minister may exchange any information contained in applications for those numbers and any numbers so assigned, and may make available any such information or numbers in any manner that may be autho rized by that Act.

103. The Act is amended by adding the following before section 36:

Making claim or providing information in person

35.1 The Minister may require an applicant or other person or a group or class of persons to be at a suitable place at a suitable time in order to make an application for benefits in person or to provide additional information about an application.

1995, c. 33, s. 22

104. Subsection 36(2) of the Act is re placed by the following:

Exception

(2) Despite subsections (1) and (1.1), if a provincial authority or a municipal authority in a province pays a person any advance or assistance or welfare payment for a month or a portion of a month that would not be paid if a benefit under this Act had been paid for that period and subsequently a benefit becomes payable or payment of a benefit may be made under this Act to that person for that period, the Minister may, in accordance with any terms and conditions that may be prescribed, deduct from the benefit and pay to the provincial authority or municipal authority, as the case may be, an amount not more than the amount of the advance or assistance or welfare payment paid.

1991, c. 44, s. 33(2); 1995, c. 33, s. 23(1)

105. Subsections 37(2) and (3) of the Act are replaced by the following:

Recovery of amount of payment

(2) If a person has received or obtained a benefit payment to which the person is not entitled, or a benefit payment in excess of the amount of the benefit payment to which the person is entitled, the amount of the benefit payment or the excess amount, as the case may be, constitutes a debt due to Her Majesty and is recoverable at any time in the Federal Court or any other court of competent jurisdiction or in any manner provided by this Act.

Set-off

(2.1) If any amount is or becomes payable to the person or to the person's estate or succession under this Act or any other Act or program administered by the Minister, the amount of the debt may be deducted and retained out of the amount payable in the prescribed manner.

Certificates

(2.2) All or part of the debt that has not been recovered may be certified by the Minister