Foreign Interference and Security of Information Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. O-5)

Harbouring or Concealing

Marginal note:Concealing person who carried out offence

• 21 (1) Every person who, for the purpose of enabling or facilitating an offence under this Act, knowingly harbours or conceals a person whom they know to be a person who has committed an offence under this Act, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment

  • (a) for a term of not more than 14 years, if the person who is harboured or concealed committed an offence under this Act for which that person is liable to imprisonment for life; and

  • (b) for a term of not more than 10 years, if the person who is harboured or concealed committed an offence under this Act for which that person is liable to any other punishment.

• Marginal note:Concealing person who is likely to carry out offence

  (2) Every person who, for the purpose of enabling or facilitating an offence under this Act, knowingly harbours or conceals any person whom he or she knows to be a person who is likely to carry out an offence under this Act, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years.

Preparatory Acts

Marginal note:Preparatory acts

• 22 (1) Every person commits an offence who, for the purpose of committing an offence under this Act, other than under subsection 13(1) or 18(1), does anything that is directed towards or done in preparation of the commission of the offence, including

  • (a) entering Canada at the direction of or for the benefit of a foreign entity, a terrorist group or a foreign economic entity;

  • (b) obtaining, retaining or gaining access to any information;

  • (c) knowingly communicating to a foreign entity, a terrorist group or a foreign economic entity the person’s willingness to commit the offence;

  • (d) at the direction of, for the benefit of or in association with a foreign entity, a terrorist group or a foreign economic entity, asking a person to commit the offence; and

  • (e) possessing any device, apparatus or software useful for concealing the content of information or for surreptitiously communicating, obtaining or retaining information.

• Marginal note:Punishment

  (2) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is guilty of an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years.

Conspiracy, Attempts, Etc.

Marginal note:Conspiracy, attempts, etc.

23 Every person commits an offence who conspires or attempts to commit, is an accessory after the fact in relation to or counsels in relation to an offence under this Act and is liable to the same punishment and to be proceeded against in the same manner as if he or she had committed the offence.

General

Marginal note:Attorney General’s consent

24 No prosecution shall be commenced for an offence against this Act without the consent of the Attorney General.

Marginal note:Jurisdiction

25 An offence against this Act may be tried, in any place in Canada, regardless of where in Canada the offence was committed.

Marginal note:Extraterritorial application

• 26 (1) A person who commits an act or omission outside Canada that would be an offence against this Act if it were committed in Canada is deemed to have committed it in Canada if the person is

  • (a) a Canadian citizen;

  • (b) a person who owes allegiance to Her Majesty in right of Canada;

  • (c) a person who is locally engaged and who performs his or her functions in a Canadian mission outside Canada; or

  • (d) a person who, after the time the offence is alleged to have been committed, is present in Canada.

• Marginal note:Jurisdiction

  (2) If a person is deemed to have committed an act or omission in Canada, proceedings in respect of the offence may, whether or not the person is in Canada, be commenced in any territorial division in Canada, and the person may be tried and punished in respect of the offence in the same manner as if the offence had been committed in that territorial division.

• Marginal note:Appearance of accused at trial

  (3) For greater certainty, the provisions of the Criminal Code relating to requirements that a person appear at and be present during proceedings and the exceptions to those requirements apply in respect of proceedings commenced in a territorial division under subsection (2).

• Marginal note:Person previously tried outside Canada

  (4) If a person is alleged to have committed an act or omission that is an offence by virtue of this section and the person has been tried and dealt with outside Canada in respect of the offence in a manner such that, if the person had been tried and dealt with in Canada, the person would be able to plead autrefois acquit, autrefois convict or pardon, the person shall be deemed to have been so tried and dealt with in Canada.

Marginal note:Punishment

27 Unless this Act provides otherwise, a person who commits an offence under this Act is guilty of

• (a) an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 14 years; or

• (b) an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 12 months or to a fine of not more than $2,000, or to both.

28 [Repealed, 2001, c. 41, s. 130]