Marginal note:Purpose

31. This Part sets out the rules that apply to the protection and the making available of information that is obtained by the Minister or the Commission under a program or prepared from that information. This Part also sets out principles for the use of information for research purposes.

Marginal note:Protection of information

32. Information is privileged and shall not be made available except as authorized by this Part.

Marginal note:Availability of information on request of an individual

• 33. (1) In addition to an individual’s right of access under section 12 of the Privacy Act, and subject to the exemptions and exclusions provided in that Act, information may be made available to the individual on their request in writing to the Minister.

• Marginal note:Availability of information to representatives and members of Parliament

  (2) On the conditions that the Minister considers advisable, and subject to the exemptions and exclusions provided in the Privacy Act, 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 the receipt of a benefit or other assistance by the individual under a program, or is relevant to any other matter that affects the individual under a program.

Marginal note:Availability of information for a program

• 34. (1) Information may be made available to any person or body for the administration or enforcement of the program for which it was obtained or prepared.

• Marginal note:Availability of information within the Department

  (2) Information may be made available to the Commission or a public officer of the Department for the administration or enforcement of a program.

Marginal note:Availability of information to Department of Social Development

• 35. (1) Information may be made available to the Minister of Social Development, or any public officer of the Department of Social Development, for the administration or enforcement of the Canada Pension Plan, the Old Age Security Act or a program as defined in section 24 of the Department of Social Development Act.

• Marginal note:Availability of information to other federal institutions

  (2) Information may be made available to a minister or a public officer of a prescribed federal institution, other than the Department of Social Development, for the administration or enforcement of a prescribed federal or provincial law or activity if the Minister considers it advisable and the information is made available subject to conditions agreed upon by the Minister and the federal institution.

• Marginal note:Secondary release of information

  (3) Information obtained under subsection (2) shall not be made available to any other person or body unless the Minister considers it advisable, the information is made available for the same purpose and it is subject to conditions agreed upon by the Minister and the federal institution.

Marginal note:Availability of information to provincial authorities

• 36. (1) Information may be made available to the government of a province, or to a public body created under the law of a province, for the administration or enforcement of a federal law or activity or a provincial law if the Minister considers it advisable and the information is made available subject to conditions agreed upon by the Minister and the government or body.

• Marginal note:Availability of information to foreign states and bodies

  (2) Information may be made available to the government of a foreign state, an international organization of states or an international organization established by the governments of states, or any institution of any such government or organization, for the administration or enforcement of a law if the Minister considers it advisable and the information is made available subject to conditions agreed upon by the Minister and the government, organization or institution.

• Marginal note:Secondary release of information

  (3) Information obtained under this section by a government, public body, organization or institution shall not be made available to any other person or body unless the Minister considers it advisable, the information is made available for the same purpose and it is subject to conditions agreed upon by the Minister and the government, public body, organization or institution.

Marginal note:Public interest

• 37. (1) Despite sections 33 to 36, information may be made available if the Minister is of the opinion that the public interest in disclosure clearly outweighs any invasion of privacy that could result from the disclosure or that disclosure would clearly benefit the individual to whom the information relates.

• Marginal note:Notice of disclosure

  (2) The Minister shall notify the Privacy Commissioner appointed under section 53 of the Privacy Act in writing of any disclosure of information under subsection (1) prior to the disclosure where reasonably practicable or in any other case without delay after the disclosure. The Privacy Commissioner may, if he or she deems it appropriate, notify the individual to whom the information relates of the disclosure.

Marginal note:Research or statistical purposes

38. Information may be made available for research or statistical purposes to any person or body, including a person or body referred to in subsection 35(2) or (3) or section 36, if

• (a) the Minister is of the opinion that the research or statistical purposes are consistent with the principles set out in paragraphs 39(1)(a) to (e);

• (b) the Minister is of the opinion that the purpose for which the information is made available cannot reasonably be accomplished unless the information is provided in a form that may identify the individual to whom it relates; and

• (c) the information is made available subject to conditions set out in an agreement between the Minister and the person or body, and the person or body undertakes in the agreement not to subsequently disclose the information in a form that could reasonably be expected to identify the individual to whom it relates.

Marginal note:Use of information for research purposes

• 39. (1) The use of information by the Minister and by public officers of the Department for policy analysis, research or evaluation purposes shall be guided by the following principles:

  • (a) the object of the policy analysis, research or evaluation is consistent with the powers, duties and functions of the Minister;

  • (b) the use of the information is consistent with any agreement under which the information was obtained;

  • (c) the results of the policy analysis, research or evaluation will be made available only in accordance with the provisions of this Part and any agreements under which the information was obtained;

  • (d) the policy analysis, research or evaluation would be difficult or impossible if the information were not used; and

  • (e) the policy analysis, research or evaluation is in the public interest.

• Marginal note:Use

  (2) Unless authorized by the Minister, a public officer shall not use information for the purpose of policy analysis, research or evaluation if the information would allow an individual to be identified.

• Marginal note:Restriction

  (3) Information that is used for policy analysis, research or evaluation purposes shall not be used for any administrative purpose as defined in section 3 of the Privacy Act.

Marginal note:Evidence and production of documents

40. Despite any other Act or law, the Minister, the members of the Commission and public officers shall not be required, in connection with any legal proceedings, to give evidence relating to information that is privileged under section 32 or to produce a statement or other writing that contains any such privileged information unless the Minister considers that it is appropriate to do so or the legal proceeding directly concerns the administration or enforcement of a program.

Marginal note:Agreements authorizing the obtaining of information

41. The Minister may enter into agreements to obtain information for the administration or enforcement of a program with federal institutions, governments of provinces or public bodies created under provincial law, governments of foreign states, international organizations of states or international organizations established by the governments of states, any institution of any such government or organization, and other persons or bodies.

Marginal note:Offence

• 42. (1) Every person or body commits an offence if they knowingly make available information that is privileged under this Part, or knowingly use or allow such information to be used, otherwise than in accordance with this Part or a condition or agreement referred to in subsection 33(2) or section 35, 36 or 38.

• Marginal note:Punishment — individuals

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

• Marginal note:Punishment — others

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

Marginal note:Regulations

43. The Governor in Council may, by regulation, prescribe

• (a) individuals or classes of individuals for the purpose of the definition “public officer” in subsection 30(1); and

• (b) federal institutions to which the information referred to in subsection 35(2) may be made available, and the federal or provincial laws or activities for whose administration or enforcement the information may be made available.

PART 5CANADA EDUCATION SAVINGS GRANTS

Interpretation

Marginal note:Definitions

• 44. (1) The following definitions apply in this Part.

  “CES grant”

  « subvention pour l’épargne-études »

  “CES grant” means a grant payable or paid under subsection 46(1).

  “prescribed”

  Version anglaise seulement

  “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations of the Governor in Council.

• Marginal note:Income Tax Act expressions

  (2) Unless the contrary intention appears,

  • (a) an expression in this Part that is defined for the purposes of section 146.1 of the Income Tax Act has the same meaning in this Part as it has for the purposes of that section; and

  • (b) all other expressions in this Part have the same meanings as in the Income Tax Act.