National Defence Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. N-5)

Act current to 2013-05-20 and last amended on 2013-02-28. Previous Versions

Offences in relation to Vessels

Marginal note:Losing, stranding or hazarding vessels

 Every person who wilfully or negligently or through other default loses, strands or hazards, or suffers to be lost, stranded or hazarded, any of Her Majesty’s Canadian ships or other vessels of the Canadian Forces is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to dismissal with disgrace from Her Majesty’s service or to less punishment.

  • R.S., c. N-4, s. 94.

 [Repealed, 1998, c. 35, s. 30]

Marginal note:Disobedience of captain’s orders
  •  (1) Every person who, when in a ship, disobeys any lawful command given by the captain of the ship in relation to the navigation or handling of the ship or affecting the safety of the ship, whether or not the captain is subject to the Code of Service Discipline, is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to imprisonment for life or to less punishment.

  • Marginal note:Command in ship

    (2) For the purposes of this section, every person of whatever rank shall, when the person is in a ship, be under the command, in respect of all matters relating to the navigation or handling of the ship or affecting the safety of the ship, of the captain of the ship, whether or not the captain is subject to the Code of Service Discipline.

  • R.S., c. N-4, s. 96.

Offences in relation to Aircraft

Marginal note:Wrongful acts in relation to aircraft or aircraft material

 Every person who

  • (a) in the use of or in relation to any aircraft or aircraft material, wilfully or negligently or by neglect of or contrary to regulations, orders or instructions, does any act or omits to do anything, which act or omission causes or is likely to cause loss of life or bodily injury to any person,

  • (b) wilfully or negligently or by neglect of or contrary to regulations, orders or instructions, does any act or omits to do anything, which act or omission results or is likely to result in damage to or destruction or loss of any of Her Majesty’s aircraft or aircraft material or of aircraft or aircraft material of any forces cooperating with Her Majesty’s Forces, or

  • (c) during a state of war wilfully or negligently causes the sequestration by or under the authority of a neutral state or the destruction in a neutral state of any of Her Majesty’s aircraft or of aircraft of any forces cooperating with Her Majesty’s Forces,

is guilty of an offence and on conviction, if the person acted wilfully, is liable to imprisonment for life or to less punishment and, in any other case, is liable to imprisonment for less than two years or to less punishment.

  • R.S., c. N-4, s. 97.
Marginal note:Signing inaccurate certificate

 Every person who signs an inaccurate certificate in relation to an aircraft or aircraft material without taking reasonable steps to ensure that it was accurate, the proof of taking which steps lies on that person, is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to imprisonment for less than two years or to less punishment.

  • R.S., c. N-4, s. 98.