Offences and Punishment

Offences and punishment

61. Every person who contravenes subsection 48(1) or 49(1)

    (a) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable, for a first offence, to a fine not exceeding $300,000, and, for any subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $300,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both; or

    (b) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable, for a first offence, to a fine not exceeding $1,000,000, and, for any subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $1,000,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or to both.

Offences and punishment

62. Every person who

    (a) fails to provide the Minister with any information requested pursuant to subsection 50(1) within a reasonable time after the request is made,

    (b) fails to provide any information that is to be provided under regulations made pursuant to paragraph 59(h),

    (c) fails to make a notification under subsection 58(1) or provide a report under subsection 58(2),

    (d) carries on any work, activity or undertaking described in subsection 50(1)

      (i) otherwise than in accordance with any information relating to the work, activity or undertaking that the person provides to the Minister under paragraph 50(1)(a),

      (ii) otherwise than in accordance with any such information as required to be modified by any order of the Minister or a person designated by the Minister under paragraph 50(2)(a), or

      (iii) contrary to any order made by the Minister or a person designated by the Minister under subsection 50(2),

    (e) fails to take any reasonable measures that the person is required to take under subsection 58(3) or fails to take such measures in the required manner, or

    (f) fails to comply with the whole or any part of a direction of an inspector or fishery officer under subsection 58(4),

is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable, for a first offence, to a fine not exceeding $200,000, and, for any subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $200,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both.

Offences and punishment

63. Every person who contravenes subsection 43(1), 44(1), (2) or (3), 45(1) or (2), 47(3) or 49(3) commits an offence and is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable, for a first offence, to a fine not exceeding $200,000 and, for any subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $200,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both.

Matters of proof

64. For the purpose of any proceeding for an offence under section 61 or 62,

    (a) a deposit takes place whether or not any act or omission resulting in the deposit is intentional;

    (b) a harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat takes place whether or not any act or omission resulting in the alteration, disruption or destruction is intentional; and

    (c) all waters are frequented by fish except where proof is made that at all times material to the proceedings the waters are not, have not been and are not likely to be frequented by fish.

PART III

ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS

Application

Application

65. (1) This Part applies in respect of prescribed classes of licences.

Non-applicati on

(2) Section 8 does not apply in respect of a licence to which this Part applies.

Establishment of Tribunals

Atlantic Fisheries Tribunal established

66. There is hereby established a tribunal, to be known as the Atlantic Fisheries Tribunal, consisting of a full-time Chairperson and any part-time members, all appointed by the Governor in Council.

Pacific Fisheries Tribunal established

67. There is hereby established a tribunal, to be known as the Pacific Fisheries Tribunal, consisting of a full-time Chairperson and any part-time members, all appointed by the Governor in Council.

Absence, etc., of Chairperson

68. If the Chairperson of a Tribunal is absent or unable to act or if the office is vacant, such other member of the Tribunal as is designated by the Governor in Council shall perform the functions of Chairperson.

Term of members

69. (1) The members of a Tribunal shall be appointed to hold office during good behaviour for a term not exceeding three years, but may be removed by the Governor in Council at any time for cause.

Re-appointme nt

(2) A member may be re-appointed to a Tribunal.

Knowledge

70. A person is not eligible to be appointed as a member unless the person is knowledgeable about Canada's fisheries resources or administrative decision-making.

Conflict of interest

71. (1) A person is not eligible to be appointed or to continue as a member if the person is, directly or indirectly, as owner, shareholder, director, officer, partner or otherwise, engaged in a fisheries business or undertaking or is a member of, or the holder of an office in, a fisheries organization.

Inheritance

(2) A member who becomes engaged in the manner referred to in subsection (1) by will or succession shall become disengaged within ninety days after becoming so engaged.

Other employment

72. Members shall not accept or hold any office or employment inconsistent with their functions under this Act.

Remuneration and fees

73. (1) The Chairperson of each Tribunal shall be paid such remuneration and allowances as are fixed by the Governor in Council, and each other member is entitled to be paid such fees for that other member's services as are fixed by the Governor in Council.

Expenses

(2) Members are entitled to be paid reasonable travel and other expenses incurred by them in the course of their duties under this Act while absent from, in the case of the Chairpersons of the Tribunals, their ordinary place of work and, in the case of any part-time members, their ordinary place of residence.

Pension

(3) A member is deemed not to be employed in the Public Service for the purposes of the Public Service Superannuation Act unless the Governor in Council deems the member to be so employed for those purposes.

Workers' compensation

(4) For the purposes of the Government Employees Compensation Act and any regulations made pursuant to section 9 of the Aeronautics Act, a member is deemed to be employed in the public service of Canada.

Acting after expiration of term

74. If a person who is engaged as a member in respect of any matter ceases to be a member before rendering a decision in respect of the matter, the person may, with the authorization of the Chairperson of the Tribunal, continue, during a period not exceeding one hundred and eighty days, to act as a member in respect of the matter.

Services and Facilities and Staffing

Secretary and other staff

75. (1) The secretary and other staff necessary for the proper conduct of the business of a Tribunal shall be appointed in accordance with the Public Service Employment Act.

Technical experts

(2) A Tribunal may engage and, subject to the approval of the Treasury Board, fix the remuneration of persons having technical or special knowledge to assist or advise the Tribunal in any matter.

Government services and facilities

76. In performing its functions, a Tribunal shall, where appropriate, make use of the services and facilities of departments, boards and agencies of the Government of Canada.

Sharing of information

77. A Tribunal shall, at the request of the Department and for the purpose of administering this Act, provide the Department with information about holders respecting appeals under section 90 and violations.

Civil Liability

Immunity

78. (1) The members and the secretary and other staff referred to in section 75 are not personally liable for anything done or omitted to be done in good faith in performing any functions under this Act.

Crown not relieved

(2) Subsection (1) does not, by reason of section 10 of the Crown Liability and Proceedings Act, relieve the Crown of liability in respect of a tort to which the Crown would otherwise be subject.

Contractual liability

79. A Tribunal is an agent of Her Majesty in right of Canada for the purposes of the law of contract.

Tort liability

80. A Tribunal, its members and the secretary and other staff referred to in section 75 are servants of Her Majesty in right of Canada for the purposes of the law of tort.

Procedural Matters

Exercise of jurisdiction

81. The jurisdiction of a Tribunal shall be exercised in any case by a single member of the Tribunal assigned by the Chairperson of the Tribunal to that case, and the order made by the member is an order of the Tribunal.

Right to appear

82. All parties to a proceeding before a Tribunal may appear in person or may be represented by counsel or by an agent.

Powers

83. (1) A Tribunal may summon any person to appear as a witness before it and may order the witness to

    (a) give evidence orally or in writing; and

    (b) produce any documents and things that the Tribunal considers necessary or desirable for the purpose of performing any of its functions.

Fees for witnesses

(2) A witness who is served with a summons under subsection (1) is entitled to receive the fees and allowances to which persons who are summoned to appear as witnesses before the Federal Court are entitled.

Enforcement of summonses and orders

84. (1) Any summons to a witness issued or order made by a Tribunal may be made a summons to a witness or an order of the Federal Court or of the superior court of a province and is enforceable in the same manner as a summons to a witness or an order of that court.

Procedure

(2) To make a summons or an order of a Tribunal a summons or an order of the Federal Court or of the superior court of a province, the usual practice and procedure of the court in such matters may be followed, or the secretary of the Tribunal may file a certified copy of the summons or order with the registrar of the court and the summons or order thereupon becomes a summons or an order of the court.

Review of decisions and orders

85. A Tribunal may review and confirm, rescind or vary any decision or order made by it.

Publication

86. (1) A Tribunal shall publish its decisions and orders in the manner it sees fit.

Names of holders

(2) The information in a decision or order published under subsection (1) may include the names and addresses of the holders at issue and, in relation to a holder that is a fishing vessel, the names and addresses of its owners or charterers.

Judicial review

87. (1) For greater certainty, the Federal Court has jurisdiction under section 18 of the Federal Court Act to hear and determine an application for judicial review in which relief is sought against a Tribunal.

Tribunal may be heard

(2) A Tribunal is entitled to be heard by counsel or otherwise on the argument of an application referred to in subsection (1).

By-laws

88. A Tribunal may make by-laws respecting the calling of meetings of the Tribunal, the conduct of business at meetings of the Tribunal and the internal administrative affairs of the Tribunal.

Rules

89. A Tribunal may, with the approval of the Governor in Council, make rules

    (a) governing its practice and procedure; and

    (b) for preventing trade secrets and information described in section 20 of the Access to Information Act from being disclosed or made public as a result of their being used as evidence before the Tribunal, including rules providing for hearings to be held in private.

Licence Appeals

Appeals to Tribunal

90. (1) Where the Minister does not issue a licence to which this Part applies on application or within a reasonable period thereafter, the applicant may appeal to a Tribunal.

Disposition of appeal

(2) A Tribunal, in accordance with any licensing policies of the Minister, may dispose of the appeal

    (a) by allowing the appeal and directing the Minister to issue the licence; or

    (b) by dismissing the appeal.