Bill C-17

55 ELIZABETH II

——————

CHAPTER 11

An Act to amend the Judges Act and certain other Acts in relation to courts

[Assented to 14th December, 2006]

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

PART 1

AMENDMENTS TO THE JUDGES ACT

Judges Act

1. Sections 9 to 21 of the Judges Act are replaced by the following:

9. The yearly salaries of the judges of the Supreme Court of Canada are as follows:

(a) the Chief Justice of Canada, $298,500; and

(b) the eight puisne judges, $276,400 each.

10. The yearly salaries of the judges of the Federal Courts are as follows:

(a) the Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Appeal, $254,600;

(b) the other judges of the Federal Court of Appeal, $232,300 each;

(c) the Chief Justice of the Federal Court, $254,600; and

(d) the other judges of the Federal Court, $232,300 each.

11. The yearly salaries of the judges of the Tax Court of Canada are as follows:

(a) the Chief Justice, $254,600;

(b) the Associate Chief Justice, $254,600; and

(c) the other judges, $232,300 each.

12. The yearly salaries of the judges of the Court of Appeal for Ontario and of the Superior Court of Justice in and for the Province of Ontario are as follows:

(a) the Chief Justice and the Associate Chief Justice of Ontario, $254,600 each;

(b) the 14 Justices of Appeal, $232,300 each;

(c) the Chief Justice and the Associate Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Justice, $254,600 each; and

(d) the 192 other judges of the Superior Court of Justice, $232,300 each.

13. The yearly salaries of the judges of the Court of Appeal and of the Superior Court in and for the Province of Quebec are as follows:

(a) the Chief Justice of Quebec, $254,600;

(b) the 18 puisne judges of the Court of Appeal, $232,300 each;

(c) the Chief Justice, the Senior Associate Chief Justice and the Associate Chief Justice of the Superior Court, $254,600 each; and

(d) the 140 puisne judges of the Superior Court, $232,300 each.

14. The yearly salaries of the judges of the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia are as follows:

(a) the Chief Justice of Nova Scotia, $254,600;

(b) the seven other judges of the Court of Appeal, $232,300 each;

(c) the Chief Justice and the Associate Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, $254,600 each; and

(d) the 23 other judges of the Supreme Court, $232,300 each.

15. The yearly salaries of the judges of the Court of Appeal of New Brunswick and of the Court of Queen’s Bench of New Brunswick are as follows:

(a) the Chief Justice of New Brunswick, $254,600;

(b) the five other judges of the Court of Appeal, $232,300 each;

(c) the Chief Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench, $254,600; and

(d) the 21 other judges of the Court of Queen’s Bench, $232,300 each.

16. The yearly salaries of the judges of the Court of Appeal for Manitoba and of Her Majesty’s Court of Queen’s Bench for Manitoba are as follows:

(a) the Chief Justice of Manitoba, $254,600;

(b) the six Judges of Appeal, $232,300 each;

(c) the Chief Justice, the Senior Associate Chief Justice and the Associate Chief Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench, $254,600 each; and

(d) the 30 puisne judges of the Court of Queen’s Bench, $232,300 each.

17. The yearly salaries of the judges of the Court of Appeal for British Columbia and of the Supreme Court of British Columbia are as follows:

(a) the Chief Justice of British Columbia, $254,600;

(b) the 12 Justices of Appeal, $232,300 each;

(c) the Chief Justice and the Associate Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, $254,600 each; and

(d) the 81 other judges of the Supreme Court, $232,300 each.

18. The yearly salaries of the judges of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island are as follows:

(a) the Chief Justice of Prince Edward Island, $254,600;

(b) the two other judges of the Appeal Division, $232,300 each;

(c) the Chief Justice of the Trial Division, $254,600; and

(d) the three other judges of the Trial Division, $232,300 each.

19. The yearly salaries of the judges of the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan and of Her Majesty’s Court of Queen’s Bench for Saskatchewan are as follows:

(a) the Chief Justice of Saskatchewan $254,600;

(b) the six Judges of Appeal, $232,300 each;

(c) the Chief Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench, $254,600; and

(d) the 29 other judges of the Court of Queen’s Bench, $232,300 each.

20. The yearly salaries of the judges of the Court of Appeal of Alberta and of the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta are as follows:

(a) the Chief Justice of Alberta, $254,600;

(b) the 10 Justices of Appeal, $232,300 each;

(c) the Chief Justice and the Associate Chief Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench, $254,600 each; and

(d) the 55 other Justices of the Court of Queen’s Bench, $232,300 each.

21. The yearly salaries of the judges of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador are as follows:

(a) the Chief Justice of Newfoundland and Labrador, $254,600;

(b) the five Judges of Appeal, $232,300 each;

(c) the Chief Justice of the Trial Division, $254,600; and

(d) the 18 other judges of the Trial Division, $232,300 each.

2. Subsections 22(1) to (2.1) of the Act are replaced by the following:

22. (1) The yearly salaries of the judges of the Supreme Court of Yukon are as follows:

(a) the senior judge, $254,600; and

(b) the other judge, $232,300.

(2) The yearly salaries of the judges of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories are as follows:

(a) the senior judge, $254,600; and

(b) the two other judges, $232,300 each.

(2.1) The yearly salaries of the judges of the Nunavut Court of Justice are as follows:

(a) the senior judge, $254,600; and

(b) the two other judges, $232,300 each.

3. Paragraph 24(6)(a) of the Act is replaced by the following:

(a) in relation to each of the Provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador, the Court of Appeal of the Province; and

4. (1) Subsection 25(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

25. (1) The yearly salaries referred to in sections 9 to 22 apply in respect of the twelve month period commencing April 1, 2004.

(2) The portion of subsection 25(2) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:

(2) The salary annexed to an office of judge in sections 9 to 22 for the twelve month period commencing April 1, 2005, and for each subsequent twelve month period, shall be the amount obtained by multiplying

(3) Paragraph 25(3)(a) of the Act is replaced by the following:

(a) in relation to any twelve month period in respect of which the salary is to be determined, the “first adjustment year” is the most recent twelve month period for which the Industrial Aggregate is available on the first day of the period in respect of which the salary is to be determined, and the “second adjustment year” is the twelve month period immediately preceding the first adjustment year; and

5. Subsection 26.3(2) of the Act is replaced by the following:

(2) A representative of the judiciary identified under subsection (1) who participates in an inquiry of the Commission is entitled to be paid, out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, two thirds of the costs determined under subsection (3) in respect of his or her participation.

6. (1) Subsection 27(2) of the Act is replaced by the following:

(2) On and after April 1, 2004, there shall be paid to each judge of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador resident in Labrador and each judge of the Supreme Court of Yukon, the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories and the Nunavut Court of Justice who is in receipt of a salary under this Act, in addition to the allowance provided by subsection (1), a non-accountable yearly allowance of $12,000 as compensation for the higher cost of living in Labrador and in the territories.

(2) Subsections 27(6) and (7) of the Act are replaced by the following:

(6) On and after April 1, 2004, each of the following judges is entitled to be paid, as a representational allowance, reasonable travel and other expenses actually incurred by the judge or the spouse or common-law partner of the judge in discharging the special extra-judicial obligations and responsibilities that devolve on the judge, to the extent that those expenses may not be reimbursed under any other provision of this Act and their aggregate amount does not exceed in any year the maximum amount indicated below in respect of the judge:

(a) the Chief Justice of Canada, $18,750;

(b) each puisne judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, $10,000;

(c) the Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Appeal and each chief justice described in sections 12 to 21 as the chief justice of a province, $12,500;

(d) each other chief justice referred to in sections 10 to 21, $10,000;

(e) the Chief Justices of the Court of Appeal of Yukon, the Court of Appeal of the Northwest Territories and the Court of Appeal of Nunavut, and the senior judges of the Supreme Court of Yukon, the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories and the Nunavut Court of Justice, $10,000 each;

(f) the Chief Justice of the Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada, $10,000; and

(g) each regional senior judge of the Superior Court of Justice in and for the Province of Ontario, $5,000.

(3) The definition “chief justice” in subsection 27(9) of the Act is replaced by the following:

“chief justice”, except in paragraphs (6)(a) and (c), includes a senior associate chief justice and an associate chief justice;

7. Subsections 28(1) and (2) of the Act are replaced by the following:

28. (1) If a judge of the Federal Court of Appeal, the Federal Court or the Tax Court of Canada notifies the Minister of Justice of Canada of his or her election to give up regular judicial duties and hold office only as a supernumerary judge, the judge shall hold the office of supernumerary judge of that Court from the time notice is given until he or she reaches the age of retirement, resigns or is removed from or otherwise ceases to hold office, or until the expiry of 10 years from the date of the election, whichever occurs earlier, and shall be paid the salary annexed to that office.

(2) An election may be made under subsection (1) only by a judge

(a) who has continued in judicial office for at least 15 years and whose combined age and number of years in judicial office is not less than 80; or

(b) who has attained the age of 70 years and has continued in judicial office for at least 10 years.

8. Subsections 29(1) and (2) of the Act are replaced by the following:

29. (1) If the legislature of a province has enacted legislation establishing for each office of judge of a superior court of the province the additional office of supernumerary judge of the court, and a judge of that court notifies the Minister of Justice of Canada and the attorney general of the province of the judge’s election to give up regular judicial duties and hold office only as a supernumerary judge, the judge shall hold the office of supernumerary judge from the time notice is given until he or she reaches the age of retirement, resigns or is removed from or otherwise ceases to hold office, or until the expiry of 10 years from the date of the election, whichever occurs earlier, and shall be paid the salary annexed to that office.

(2) An election under subsection (1) may only be made by a judge

(a) who has continued in judicial office for at least 15 years and whose combined age and number of years in judicial office is not less than 80; or

(b) who has attained the age of 70 years and has continued in judicial office for at least 10 years.

9. (1) Paragraph 40(1)(c) of the Act is replaced by the following:

(c) a judge of the Supreme Court of Yukon, the Supreme Court of the Northwest Terri- tories or the Nunavut Court of Justice who moves to a place of residence in one of the ten provinces or in another territory during the period of two years

(i) beginning two years before the judge’s date of eligibility to retire, or

(ii) if no removal allowance is paid in respect of a move made during the period described in subparagraph (i), beginning on the judge’s date of retirement or resignation from office;

(2) Paragraph 40(1)(e) of the Act is replaced by the following:

(e) a judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, the Federal Court or the Tax Court of Canada who moves to a place of residence in Canada outside the area within which the judge was required to reside by the Act establishing that Court, during the period of two years

(i) beginning two years before the judge’s date of eligibility to retire, or

(ii) if no removal allowance is paid in respect of a move made during the period described in subparagraph (i), beginning on the judge’s date of retirement or resignation from office; and

(3) Section 40 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (2):

(2.1) Where a removal allowance is payable to a judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, the Federal Court or the Tax Court of Canada under paragraph (1)(a), an employment assistance allowance shall be paid to the judge’s spouse or common-law partner up to a maximum of $5,000 for expenses actually incurred by the spouse or common-law partner in pursuing employment in the judge’s new place of residence.

10. Paragraph 41.1(2)(c) of the Act is replaced by the following:

(c) the representational allowance referred to in subsection 27(6) for the period, as though the appropriate maximum referred to in that subsection were an amount that bears the same ratio to that allowance that the number of months in the period bears to twelve.

11. (1) Paragraph 42(1)(e) of the Act is replaced by the following:

(e) a judge of the Supreme Court of Canada who has continued in judicial office on that Court for at least 10 years and resigns from office,

(2) Subsection 42(3) of the French version of the Act is replaced by the following:

12. Subsection 43.1(2) of the Act is replaced by the following:

(2) The amount of the deferred annuity shall be two thirds of the amount of the salary annexed to the judge’s office at the time of the election multiplied by a fraction of which

(a) the numerator is the number of years, to the nearest one tenth of a year, during which the judge has continued in judicial office, and

(b) the denominator is the number of years, to the nearest one tenth of a year, during which the judge would have been required to continue in judicial office in order to be eligible to be granted an annuity under paragraph 42(1)(a) or (d).

13. Subsection 44(2) of the Act is replaced by the following:

(2) Subject to this section, where a judge who, before, on or after July 11, 1955, was granted a pension or annuity under this Act or any other Act of Parliament providing for the grant of pensions or annuities to judges died or dies after July 10, 1955, the Governor in Council shall grant to the survivor of the judge

(a) an annuity equal to one half of the pension or annuity granted to the judge, commencing on July 18, 1983 or immediately after the death of the judge, whichever is later, and continuing during the life of the survivor; or

(b) if a division of the judge’s annuity benefits has been made under section 52.14, an annuity equal to one half of the annuity that would have been granted to the judge had the annuity benefits not been divided, commencing immediately after the death of the judge and continuing during the life of the survivor.

14. Subsection 50(2.1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

(2.1) A supernumerary judge, a judge who continues in judicial office after having been in judicial office for at least 15 years and whose combined age and number of years in judicial office is not less than 80, a judge of the Supreme Court of Canada who has continued in judicial office on that Court for at least 10 years, or a judge referred to in section 41.1 is not required to contribute under subsections (1) and (2) but is required to contribute, by reservation from salary, to the Supplementary Retirement Benefits Account at a rate of one per cent of his or her salary.

15. The Act is amended by adding the following after section 52:

Division of Judge’s Annuity Benefits on Conjugal Breakdown

52.1 The following definitions apply in this section and in sections 52.11 to 52.22.

“agreement” means an agreement referred to in subparagraph 52.11(2)(b)(ii).

“annuity” means an annuity payable under section 42, 43 or 43.1.

“annuity benefit” means an annuity or a return of contributions payable under section 51, and includes amounts payable to a judge under the Supplementary Retirement Benefits Act.

“application” means an application made under subsection 52.11(1).

“court order” means an order referred to in paragraph 52.11(2)(a) or subparagraph 52.11(2)(b)(i).

“interested party”, in relation to an application for division of a judge’s annuity benefits, means the judge or the spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner with whom those benefits would be divided under the application.

“judge” includes a former judge who has been granted an annuity.

“Minister” means the Minister of Justice of Canada.

“prescribed” means prescribed by regulation.

“spouse”, in relation to a judge, includes a person who is a party to a void marriage with the judge.

52.11 (1) A judge or a spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner of a judge may, in the circumstances described in subsection (2), apply in accordance with the regulations for the division of the judge’s annuity benefits between the judge and the spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner.

(2) An application may be made under the following circumstances:

(a) where a court of competent jurisdiction in Canada, in proceedings in relation to divorce, annulment of marriage or separation, has made an order that provides for the annuity benefits to be divided between the interested parties; or

(b) where the interested parties have been living separate and apart for a period of one year or more and, either before or after they began to live separate and apart,

(i) a court of competent jurisdiction in Canada has made an order that provides for the annuity benefits to be divided between them, or

(ii) the interested parties have entered into a written agreement that provides for the annuity benefits to be divided between them.

(3) The Minister shall send to each interested party in accordance with the regulations a notice of the receipt of an application.

52.12 (1) An interested party who objects to the division of annuity benefits on any of the grounds described in subsection (2) may submit a notice of objection in writing in accordance with the regulations within 90 days after the day on which notice of the receipt of the application is sent to the interested party under subsection 52.11(3).

(2) The grounds for objection are as follows:

(a) the court order or agreement on which the application is based has been varied or is of no force or effect;

(b) the terms of the court order or agreement have been or are being satisfied by other means; or

(c) proceedings have been commenced in a court of competent jurisdiction in Canada to appeal or review the court order or challenge the terms of the agreement.

(3) An interested party who submits a notice of objection shall include with that notice documentary evidence to establish the grounds for objection.

52.13 (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), the Minister shall, as soon as is practicable after the Minister is satisfied that an application meets the requirements of this Act, approve the division of annuity benefits in respect of which the application is made.

(2) When an interested party submits a notice of objection in accordance with section 52.12, the Minister shall

(a) if the objection is made on the grounds referred to in paragraph 52.12(2)(a) or (b), defer a decision on the application until the Minister is able to ascertain to his or her satisfaction whether those grounds have been established; and

(b) if the objection is made on the grounds referred to in paragraph 52.12(2)(c), defer a decision on the application until the final disposition of the proceedings on which those grounds are based.

(3) The Minister shall refuse to approve the division of annuity benefits if

(a) the application is withdrawn in accord­ance with the regulations;

(b) a notice of objection has been submitted on grounds referred to in paragraph 52.12(2)(a) or (b) and the Minister is satisfied that those grounds have been established and constitute sufficient reason to refuse the division;

(c) a notice of objection has been submitted on grounds referred to in paragraph 52.12(2)(c) and the court order or agreement is of no force or effect as a result of the proceedings referred to in that paragraph;

(d) the period of cohabitation of the judge and the spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner cannot be determined under subsection 52.14(6); or

(e) the Minister is satisfied, based on evidence submitted by any person, that it would not be just to approve the division.

(4) Notwithstanding subsection (3), the Minister may approve the division of annuity benefits on the basis of an order of a court issued pursuant to any proceedings referred to in paragraph 52.12(2)(c).

(5) The Minister may approve the division of the annuity benefits even though the court order or agreement on which the application is based was made or entered into before the day on which subsection 52.11(1) comes into force.

52.14 (1) Subject to subsections (3) and (3.1), where the Minister approves the division of the annuity benefits of a judge, the spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner shall be accorded a share of the annuity benefits consisting of

(a) an amount representing 50% of a proportion, determined in accordance with subsection (2), of the value of the annuity that is attributed, in accordance with the regulations, to the period subject to division; or

(b) if the terms of the court order or agreement on which the application for division is based provide for the payment to the spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner of a share of annuity benefits that is less than the amount determined under paragraph (a), that lesser share.

(2) The proportion of the value of an annuity referred to in paragraph (1)(a) is

(a) subject to paragraph (b), the period subject to division divided by the judge’s number of years of service until the judge’s actual date of retirement or, in the case of a judge who has not yet retired, until the judge’s expected date of retirement determined in accordance with the regulations; or

(b) in the case of a judge who had resigned or been removed from office by reason of an infirmity, the quotient obtained by dividing

(i) the period, measured to the nearest one tenth of a year, from the beginning of the period subject to division to the earlier of the end of the period of cohabitation and the judge’s expected date of retirement if the infirmity had not occurred, determined in accordance with the regulations,

by

(ii) the judge’s number of years of service up to the judge’s expected date of retirement if the infirmity had not occurred, determined in accordance with the regulations.

(3) Subject to subsections (3.1) and (4), where the Minister approves the division of the annuity benefits of a judge who was not eligible to be granted an annuity at the end of the period subject to division, the spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner shall be accorded a share of the annuity benefits consisting of

(a) an amount equal to 50% of the contributions made by the judge under section 50 during the period subject to division plus 50% of any interest payable on those contributions; or

(b) if the terms of the court order or agreement on which the application for division is based provide for the payment to the spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner of a share of annuity benefits that is less than the amount determined under paragraph (a), that lesser share.

(3.1) Subject to subsection (4), where the Minister approves the division of the annuity benefits of a judge who had been granted an annuity by reason of an infirmity but was not otherwise eligible to be granted an annuity at the end of the period subject to division, the spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner shall be accorded a share of the annuity benefits consisting of

(a) an amount equal to 50% of the contributions that would have been made during the period described by subparagraph (2)(b)(i) if the judge had continued in office, plus 50% of any interest payable on those contributions; or

(b) if the terms of the court order or agreement on which the application for division is based provide for the payment to the spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner of a share of annuity benefits that is less than the amount determined under paragraph (a), that lesser share.

(4) A judge’s spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner who is entitled to be accorded a share of the judge’s annuity benefits under subsection (3) or (3.1) may elect in the manner prescribed by the regulations, in lieu of receiving that share, to receive — at the time the judge becomes eligible to be granted an annuity, or at the time the judge would have become eligible to be granted an annuity had the judge not resigned or been removed from office by reason of an infirmity — a share of the annuity benefits for which the judge is or would have been eligible, determined as provided in subsection (1).

(5) Where an election has been made under subsection (4) and, before becoming eligible to be granted an annuity, the judge dies, resigns, is removed from office or otherwise ceases to hold office, the spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner shall instead be paid immediately the portion of the judge’s contributions to which the spouse was otherwise entitled under subsection (3) or (3.1).

(6) For the purposes of this section and sections 52.15 and 52.16,

(a) a period subject to division is the portion of a period of cohabitation during which a judge held office under this Act, measured in years to the nearest one tenth of a year; and

(b) a period of cohabitation is the period during which interested parties cohabited, as specified by the court order or agreement on which an application for division is based or, if none is specified, as determined in accordance with the regulations on the basis of evidence submitted by either or both of the interested parties.

(7) A share of annuity benefits that cannot be accorded under subsection (1) by reason only of the death of the spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner shall be paid to that person’s estate or succession.

(8) Where the Minister approves the division of a judge’s annuity benefits, the annuity benefits payable to the judge under this Act shall be adjusted in accordance with the regulations.

(9) The Minister shall send a notice of the division of annuity benefits in the prescribed manner to each interested party.

52.15 (1) The spouse’s, former spouse’s or former common-law partner’s share of a judge’s annuity benefits shall be accorded by

(a) the transfer of the specified portion of that share to a retirement savings plan established for the spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner that is of the prescribed kind for the purposes of section 26 of the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985; and

(b) the payment of the remainder of that share, if any, to the spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner.

(2) For the purpose of paragraph (1)(a), the specified portion of a spouse’s, former spouse’s or former common-law partner’s share of a judge’s annuity benefits is

(a) if that share consists of a portion of the judge’s contributions, that portion; or

(b) in any other case, the amount determined by the formula

(A x B x C) / D

where

A      is the share of the annuity benefits,

B      is the period subject to division,

C      is the defined benefit limit, within the meaning of regulations made under the Income Tax Act, for the calendar year in which the share is accorded, and

D      is the portion of the annuity that is attributed, in accordance with the regulations, to the period subject to division.

(3) For the purposes of the Income Tax Act, an amount transferred to a retirement savings plan in accordance with paragraph (1)(a) is deemed to be an amount transferred from a registered pension plan in accordance with subsection 147.3(5) of that Act.

52.16 Where a division of annuity benefits is made in respect of a period subject to division under section 52.14, no further divisions may be made under that section in respect of that period.

52.17 Where the amount transferred or paid in respect of a spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner, or paid to the estate or succession of a deceased spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner, under section 52.14 or 52.15 exceeds the amount that the spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner was entitled to have transferred or paid or the estate or succession was entitled to be paid, the amount in excess constitutes a debt due to Her Majesty in right of Canada by that spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner or that estate or succession.

52.18 Where an adjustment is made under subsection 52.14(8) and an amount is or has been paid to a judge that exceeds the amount to which the judge is or would have been entitled under this Act after the effective date of that adjustment, the amount in excess constitutes a debt due to Her Majesty in right of Canada by the judge and may be recovered at any time by set-off against any annuity benefit that is payable to the judge under this Act, without prejudice to any other recourse available to Her Majesty in right of Canada with respect to its recovery.

52.19 (1) Amounts that a spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner is or may become entitled to under section 52.14 are not capable of being assigned, charged, anticipated or given as security, and any transaction that purports to assign, charge, anticipate or give as security any such amount is void.

(2) Amounts that a spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner is or may become entitled to under section 52.14 are exempt from attachment, seizure and execution, either at law or in equity.

52.2 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a court of competent jurisdiction may order, for any period that the court determines, that no action be taken by the Minister under this Act that may prejudice the ability of the spouse, common-law partner, former spouse or former common-law partner to make an application or obtain the division of the judge’s annuity benefits under this Act.

52.21 Subject to the regulations, the Minister shall, at the request of a spouse, common-law partner, former spouse or former common-law partner of a judge, provide that person with information prescribed by the regulations concerning the benefits that are or may become payable to or in respect of that judge under this Act.

52.22 The Governor in Council may make regulations

(a) respecting the manner of making an application, the information that is to be provided in it and the documents that are to accompany it;

(b) prescribing the circumstances in which interested parties are deemed to have been living separate and apart for the purposes of paragraph 52.11(2)(b);

(c) prescribing circumstances in which a person may make an application or object to an application on behalf of another person, or may act on behalf of another person in proceeding with an application made by that other person;

(d) prescribing circumstances in which, the manner in which and the conditions under which the personal representative or the liquidator of the succession of a deceased judge or of a deceased spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner of a judge may make or object to an application or may proceed with an application that was made by or on behalf of the judge, spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner;

(e) when regulations are made under paragraph (c) or (d), respecting the manner in which and the extent to which any provision of this Act applies to a person referred to in that paragraph or in the circumstances prescribed by those regulations, and adapting any provision of this Act to those persons or circumstances;

(f) prescribing circumstances in which, the manner in which and the conditions under which a spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner of a judge may make an application after the death of the judge;

(g) respecting the notice of receipt of applications to be given to interested parties under subsection 52.11(3);

(h) respecting the withdrawal of applications;

(i) respecting the manner of submitting notices of objection under subsection 52.12(1);

(j) for determining the value of an annuity to be attributed to a period subject to division, for the purposes of subsection 52.14(1);

(k) for determining the expected date of retirement of a judge, for the purposes of subsections 52.14(2) and (3.1);

(l) respecting the actuarial assumptions on which the determinations made under paragraphs (j) and (k) are to be based;

(m) prescribing the manner in which a judge’s spouse, former spouse or former common-law partner may make an election under subsection 52.14(4), and respecting the notification of a judge of such an election;

(n) prescribing, for the purposes of paragraph 52.14(6)(b), the manner of determining the period during which interested parties cohabited;

(o) respecting the adjustment of the annuity benefits payable to a judge under subsection 52.14(8), including the determination of the effective date of the adjustment;

(p) generally respecting the division of the annuity benefits of a judge who resigns or is removed from office by reason of an infirmity;

(q) respecting the manner in which and the extent to which any provision of this Act applies, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Act, to a judge, to a spouse, former spouse, common-law partner or former common-law partner of a judge or to any other person when annuity benefits are divided under section 52.14, and adapting any provision of this Act to those persons;

(r) for determining the portion of an annuity to be attributed to a period subject to division, for the purposes of subsection 52.15(2);

(s) for the purposes of section 52.21, respecting the manner in which a request for information is to be made by a spouse, former spouse, common-law partner or former common-law partner of a judge, prescribing the information that is to be provided to that person concerning the benefits that are or may become payable to or in respect of the judge and specifying circumstances in which a request may be refused;

(t) prescribing remedial action that may be taken in prescribed circumstances in response to administrative error or the provision of erroneous information;

(u) prescribing any matter or thing that may be prescribed under sections 52.1 to 52.21; and

(v) generally for carrying out the purposes and provisions of sections 52.1 to 52.21 and this section.

16. Subsection 53(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

53. (1) The salaries, allowances and annuities payable under this Act and the amounts payable under sections 46.1, 51 and 52.15 shall be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

PART 2

AMENDMENTS TO OTHER ACTS

Canada Transportation Act

17. Subsection 33(1) of the Canada Transportation Act is replaced by the following:

33. (1) A decision or an order of the Agency may be made an order of the Federal Court or of any superior court and is enforceable in the same manner as such an order.

Crown Liability and Proceedings Act

18. (1) Paragraph 34(a) of the Crown Liability and Proceedings Act is replaced by the following:

(a) prescribing rules of practice and procedure in respect of proceedings by, against or involving the Crown, including tariffs of fees and costs;

(2) Paragraphs 34(d) and (e) of the Act are replaced by the following:

(d) making applicable to any proceedings by, against or involving the Crown all or any of the rules of evidence applicable in similar proceedings between subject and subject; and

(e) generally respecting proceedings by, against or involving the Crown.

Employment Insurance Act

19. Section 105 of the Employment Insurance Act is replaced by the following:

105. The decision of the Tax Court of Canada under section 103 is final and, except for an appeal under the Federal Courts Act, is not subject to appeal to or review by any court.

Federal Courts Act

20. Section 5.4 of the Federal Courts Act is replaced by the following:

5.4 At least five of the judges of the Federal Court of Appeal and at least 10 of the judges of the Federal Court must be persons who have been judges of the Court of Appeal or of the Superior Court of the Province of Quebec, or have been members of the bar of that Province.

21. Subsection 6(2) of the Act is replaced by the following:

(2) If the office of Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Appeal or the office of the Chief Justice of the Federal Court is vacant, or the Chief Justice of either court is absent from Canada or is for any reason unable or unwilling to act, the powers and duties of the Chief Justice shall be exercised and performed by

(a) the judge of the Federal Court of Appeal or of the Federal Court, as the case may be, who has been designated for that purpose by the Chief Justice of that Court; or

(b) if no judge has been so designated, or if the judge so designated is absent from Canada or is unable or unwilling to act, the senior judge of the same court who is in Canada and is able and willing to act and who has not elected to hold office as a supernumerary judge under section 28 of the Judges Act.

22. Subsection 7(2) of the English version of the Act is replaced by the following:

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the Rules may provide for a rota of judges in order to ensure continuity of judicial availability in any centre where the volume of work or other circumstances make such an arrangement expedient.

23. Subsection 12(2) of the Act is repealed.

24. Paragraph 45.1(1)(b) of the Act is replaced by the following:

(b) three judges designated by the Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Appeal, and five judges and one prothonotary designated by the Chief Justice of the Federal Court;

Pesticide Residue Compensation Act

25. Subsection 14(1) of the Pesticide Residue Compensation Act is replaced by the following:

14. (1) The Governor in Council may, from among the judges of the Federal Court and the judges of the superior, district or county courts of the provinces, appoint an Assessor and the number of Deputy Assessors that the Governor in Council considers necessary to hear and determine appeals from compensation awards made under this Act or under any other Act to which this Part is made applicable and, subject to this Act, may prescribe their jurisdiction.

Railway Safety Act

26. Subsection 34(1) of the Railway Safety Act is replaced by the following:

34. (1) An order or emergency directive made by the Minister may be made an order of the Federal Court or any superior court and shall be enforced in the same manner as an order of the court.

Tax Court of Canada Act

27. Subsection 12(4) of the Tax Court of Canada Act is replaced by the following:

(4) The Court has exclusive original jurisdiction to hear and determine applications for extensions of time under section 45 or 47 of the Air Travellers Security Charge Act, subsection 28(1) of the Canada Pension Plan, section 33.2 of the Cultural Property Export and Import Act, section 97.51 or 97.52 of the Customs Act, subsection 103(1) of the Employment Insurance Act, section 197 or 199 of the Excise Act, 2001, section 304 or 305 of the Excise Tax Act, or section 166.2 or 167 of the Income Tax Act.

28. Section 17.2 of the Act is replaced by the following:

17.2 (1) Unless the Act under which the proceeding arises provides otherwise, a proceeding in respect of which this section applies shall be instituted by filing an originating document in the form and manner set out in the rules of Court and by paying, in accordance with the rules, any required filing fee.

(2) An originating document is deemed to be filed on the day on which it is received by the Registry of the Court.

(3) After the proceeding has been instituted, an officer of the Registry of the Court shall, on behalf of the party who instituted the proceeding and in accordance with the rules of the Court, serve the originating document without delay on Her Majesty in right of Canada by transmitting a copy to the office of the Deputy Attorney General of Canada.

(4) An officer of the Registry of the Court shall, in accordance with the rules of the Court, deliver or forward to the party who instituted the proceeding a certificate indicating the date of filing of the originating document and the date of service on Her Majesty in right of Canada.

(5) A certificate is evidence of the dates of filing and service.

29. Section 18.15 of the Act is replaced by the following:

18.15 (1) An appeal referred to in section 18 shall be instituted by filing an originating document with the Registry of the Court in the manner set out in the rules of Court and by paying, in accordance with the rules, any required filing fee. The document shall set out, in general terms, the reasons for the appeal and the relevant facts, but no special form is required unless the Act under which the appeal arises provides otherwise.

(2) An originating document is deemed to be filed on the day on which it is received by the Registry of the Court.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the Act under which the appeal arises, the Court is not bound by any legal or technical rules of evidence in conducting a hearing and the appeal shall be dealt with by the Court as informally and expeditiously as the circumstances and considerations of fairness permit.

30. Subsection 18.26(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

18.26 (1) The Court may, subject to the rules, award costs. In particular, the Court may award costs to the appellant if the judgment reduces the aggregate of all amounts in issue or the amount of interest in issue, or increases the amount of loss in issue, as the case may be, by more than one half.

31. Section 18.27 of the Act is replaced by the following:

18.27 The Governor in Council may make regulations increasing the amount in dispute referred to in paragraphs 18.3002(3)(c) and 18.3008(c) and subparagraph 18.3009(1)(c)(i) to any amount that does not exceed $12,000.

32. The portion of subsection 18.29(1) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:

18.29 (1) The provisions of sections 18.14 and 18.15, other than the reference to filing fees, subsection 18.18(1), section 18.19, subsection 18.22(3) and sections 18.23 and 18.24 apply, with any modifications that the circumstances require, in respect of appeals arising under

33. The portion of subsection 18.3009(1) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:

18.3009 (1) In an appeal referred to in section 18.3001, the Court may, subject to the rules of Court, award costs. In particular, the Court may award costs to the person who brought the appeal if the judgment reduces the amount in dispute by more than one half and

34. Subsection 19.2(3) of the English version of the Act is replaced by the following:

(3) The Attorney General of Canada and the attorney general of each province are entitled to notice of any appeal made in respect of the constitutional question.

COMING INTO FORCE

35. (1) Subsections 9(1) and (2) come into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.

(2) Sections 13 and 15 come into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.

(3) Sections 28 to 30, 32 and 33 come into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.

36. Section 44.2 of the Judges Act, as enacted by section 163 of the Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act, chapter 12 of the Statutes of Canada, 2000, and replaced by section 24 of An Act to amend the Judges Act and to amend another Act in consequence, chapter 7 of the Statutes of Canada, 2001, and the Optional Survivor Annuity Regulations, made by Order in Council P.C. 2001-1362 on August 1, 2001 and registered as SOR/2001-283, are deemed to have come into force on August 1, 2001.