Statistics Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. S-19)

Marginal note:Return of exports and imports from Customs

25 For the purposes of this Act and subject to section 17, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness shall cause to be sent to the Chief Statistician returns of imports and exports into and from Canada and details of the means of transportation used therefor, in such manner and at such times as the Governor in Council may prescribe on the recommendation of the Minister and the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.

Criminal Statistics

Marginal note:Courts to furnish criminal statistics

26 The clerk of every court or tribunal administering criminal justice or, if there is no clerk, the judge or other functionary presiding over the court or tribunal shall, at the times, in the manner and for the periods that the Chief Statistician may establish, transmit the information requested by the Minister relating to the criminal business transacted in the court or tribunal.

Marginal note:Wardens and sheriffs

27 The warden of every penitentiary and reformatory and the sheriff of every county, district or other territorial division shall, at the times, in the manner and for the periods that the Chief Statistician may establish, transmit the information requested by the Minister relating to the prisoners committed to any penitentiary, reformatory or jail under their charge or within their jurisdiction.

Marginal note:Records

28 Every person who is required to transmit any information mentioned in section 26 or 27 shall from day to day make and keep entries and records of the particulars used to respond to requests for information made to them.

Marginal note:Pardons

29 The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness shall cause to be transmitted to the Chief Statistician, at the times and for the periods that the Chief Statistician may establish, the information requested by the Minister relating to the cases in which the prerogative of mercy has been exercised.

Offences and Punishment

Marginal note:Desertion or false declaration

30 Every person who, after taking the oath set out in subsection 6(1),

• (a) deserts from his duty, or wilfully makes any false declaration, statement or return in the performance of his duties,

• (b) in the pretended performance of his duties, obtains or seeks to obtain information that the person is not duly authorized to obtain, or

• (c) contravenes subsection 17(1)

is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.

Marginal note:False or unlawful information

31 Every person is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than $500 who, without lawful excuse,

• (a) refuses or neglects, following a request for information under this Act,

  • (i) to provide any requested information to the best of their knowledge and belief, or

  • (ii) to provide any requested information when and as required under this Act; or

• (b) knowingly gives false or misleading information or practises any other deception under this Act.

Marginal note:Refusal to grant access to records

32 Every person is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than $1,000

• (a) who, having the custody or charge of any documents or records that are maintained in any department or in any municipal office, corporation, business or organization, from which information sought in respect of the objects of this Act can be obtained or that would aid in the completion or correction of the information, refuses or neglects to grant access to the information to any person authorized for the purpose by the Chief Statistician, or

• (b) who otherwise in any way wilfully obstructs or seeks to obstruct any person employed in the execution of any duty under this Act.

Marginal note:No imprisonment

32.1 Despite subsection 787(1) of the Criminal Code, no imprisonment may be imposed as punishment for a conviction under section 31 or 32.

Marginal note:Leaving notice at house

• 33 (1) The leaving by an enumerator, agent or other person employed or deemed to be employed under this Act, or the delivery by the post office at any house, of any request for information purporting to be made under this Act that includes a notice requiring that the information be provided in the manner specified and within a stated time to Statistics Canada by the occupant of the house, or in their absence by some other member of the family, is, as against the occupant, a sufficient requirement to provide the information even if the occupant is not named in the notice nor personally served with it.

• Marginal note:Leaving notice at office

  (2) The leaving by an enumerator, agent or other person employed or deemed to be employed under this Act at the office or other place of business of any person, or the delivery by the post office to any person or their agent, of any request for information purporting to be made under this Act that includes a notice requiring that the information be provided in the manner specified and within a stated time to Statistics Canada is, as against the person, a sufficient requirement to do so.

Marginal note:Disclosing secret information

34 Every person who, after taking the oath set out in subsection 6(1),

• (a) wilfully discloses or divulges directly or indirectly to any person not entitled under this Act to receive the same any information obtained by him in the course of his employment that might exert an influence on or affect the market value of any stocks, bonds or other security or any product or article, or

• (b) uses any information described in paragraph (a) for the purpose of speculating in any stocks, bonds or other security or any product or article

is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both.

Marginal note:Personation of Statistics Canada employee

35 Every person who

• (a) personates an employee of Statistics Canada for the purpose of obtaining information from any person, or

• (b) represents himself to be making an inquiry under the authority of this Act when the person is not an officer, employee or agent of Statistics Canada,

is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.

Marginal note:Application of fines

36 All fines imposed pursuant to this Act belong to Her Majesty in right of Canada and shall be paid to the Receiver General.

Marginal note:Limitation period

37 Any proceedings by way of summary conviction in respect of an offence under this Act may be instituted at any time within but not later than two years after the time when the subject-matter of the proceedings arose.