Witness Protection Program Act (S.C. 1996, c. 15)

Marginal note:Delegation — provincial official

15.1 A provincial official may delegate to any official of the same province or municipality any of his or her powers, duties and functions under this Act, except the power to

• (a) determine whether to disclose information under paragraphs 11.3(2)(b) and (c) and subsection 11.3(3); and

• (b) enter into an agreement or arrangement under subsection 14.1(2).

Marginal note:Annual report

• 16 (1) The Commissioner shall, not later than June 30 each year, submit a report on the operation of the Program during the preceding fiscal year to the Minister.

• Marginal note:Tabling

  (2) The Minister shall cause a copy of the report to be laid before each House of Parliament on any of the first fifteen days on which that House is sitting after the Minister receives the report.

Marginal note:Policy directions

17 The Commissioner shall give effect to any directions that the Minister may make concerning matters of general policy that are related to the administration of the Program and to the coordination of activities under this Act respecting a designated program.

Marginal note:Cooperation

18 Subject to the confidentiality requirements imposed by any other Act of Parliament, federal departments, agencies and services shall, to the extent possible, cooperate with the Commissioner and persons acting on his or her behalf in the administration of the Program and of activities under this Act respecting a designated program.

Marginal note:Existing agreements

19 Every agreement in existence on the day on which this Act comes into force entered into by or on behalf of the Commissioner to provide protection to a person or entered into on behalf of the Government of Canada relating to the protection of persons is, to the extent that it is consistent with this Act, deemed to have been entered into under the relevant provisions of this Act and shall be governed by this Act.

Marginal note:Regulations

20 The Governor in Council may make regulations for the purpose of giving effect to this Act including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, regulations

• (a) specifying the types of information to be provided in respect of a witness who is being considered for admission to the Program;

• (b) respecting the terms that must be included in protection agreements or in agreements or arrangements entered into under section 14; and

• (c) governing the procedures to be followed in order to involve a protectee in legal proceedings.

Offence

Marginal note:Disclosure offence

21 Every person who contravenes subsection 11(1) is guilty of an offence and liable

• (a) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or to both; or

• (b) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both.

Related and Consequential Amendments

22 and 23 [Amendments]