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Bill C-54

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R.S., c. C-8; R.S., cc. 6, 41 (1st Supp.), cc. 5, 13, 27, 30 (2nd Supp.), cc. 18, 38 (3rd Supp.), cc. 1, 46, 51 (4th Supp.); 1990, c. 8; 1991, cc. 14, 44, 49; 1992, cc. 1, 2, 27, 48; 1993, cc. 24, 27, 28; 1994, cc. 13, 21

CANADA PENSION PLAN

R.S., c. 30 (2nd Supp.), s. 1(3)

25. The definition ``Review Tribunal'' in subsection 2(1) of the Canada Pension Plan is replaced by the following:

``Review Tribunal''
« tribunal de révision »

``Review Tribunal'' means a Canada Pension Plan - Old Age Security Review Tribunal established under section 82;

1991, c. 44, s. 6(1)

26. Subsection 55(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Application for division

55. (1) Subject to this section, subsections 55.2(2), (3) and (4) and section 55.3, an application for a division of the unadjusted pensionable earnings of the former spouses to a marriage may be made in writing to the Minister by or on behalf of either former spouse, by the estate of either former spouse or by such person as may be prescribed, within thirty-six months or, where both former spouses agree in writing, at any time after the date of a decree absolute of divorce, of a judgment granting a divorce under the Divorce Act or of a judgment of nullity of the marriage, granted or rendered on or after January 1, 1978 and before the coming into force of section 55.1.

R.S., c. 30 (2nd Supp.), s. 23

27. Subsection 55.1(5) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Minister's discretion

(5) Before a division of unadjusted pensionable earnings is made under this section, or within the prescribed period after such a division is made, the Minister may refuse to make the division or may cancel the division, as the case may be, if the Minister is satisfied that

    (a) benefits are payable to or in respect of both spouses or former spouses; and

    (b) the amount of both benefits decreased at the time the division was made or would decrease at the time the division was proposed to be made.

1991, c. 44, s. 8(3)

28. Subsection 55.2(10) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Notification of division

(10) Where there is a division under section 55.1, both spouses or former spouses or their respective estates shall be notified in the prescribed manner.

1991, c. 44, s. 15

29. Subsections 65(2) and (3) of the Act are replaced by the following:

Benefit not subject to seizure or execution

(1.1) A benefit is exempt from seizure and execution, either at law or in equity.

Exception

(2) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (1.1), where any provincial authority or municipal authority in a province pays a person any advance or assistance or welfare payment for a month or any portion of a month that would not be paid if a benefit under this Act had been paid for that period and subsequently a benefit becomes payable or payment of a benefit may be made under this Act to that person for that period, the Minister may, in accordance with such terms and conditions as may be prescribed, deduct from that benefit and pay to the provincial authority or municipal authority, as the case may be, an amount not exceeding the amount of the advance or assistance or welfare payment paid, if that person had, on or before receiving the advance or assistance or welfare payment from the provincial authority or municipal authority, consented in writing to the deduction and payment by the Minister.

Exception

(3) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (1.1), where an administrator of a disability income program who is approved by the Minister makes a payment under that program to a person for a month or any portion of a month that would not have been made if a benefit under paragraph 44(1)(b) had been paid to that person for that period and subsequently a benefit becomes payable or payment of a benefit may be made under this Act to that person for that period, the Minister may, in accordance with such terms and conditions as may be prescribed, deduct from that benefit and pay to the administrator an amount not exceeding the amount of the payment made under that program, if that person had, on or before receiving that payment, consented in writing to the deduction and payment by the Minister.

30. (1) Subsection 65.1(11) of the Act is amended by striking out the word ``and'' at the end of paragraph (c), by adding the word ``and'' at the end of paragraph (d) and by adding the following after paragraph (d):

    (e) the month following the month in which the Minister approves a request or requests in writing from both spouses that the assignment be cancelled.

R.S., c. 30 (2nd Supp.), s. 33

(2) Subsection 65.1(12) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Request for reinstatement

(11.1) Where paragraph (11)(e) applies, either spouse may make a request in writing to the Minister to have the assignment reinstated.

When reinstatement effective

(11.2) An assignment shall be reinstated on the first day of the month following the month in which the Minister approves the request referred to in subsection (11.1).

Notification of assignment

(12) On approval by the Minister of an assignment under this section, both spouses shall be notified in the prescribed manner.

31. (1) The portion of subsection 66(3) of the Act after paragraph (d) is replaced by the following:

the Minister may, unless that person has been convicted of an offence under any provision of this Act or of the Criminal Code in connection with the obtaining of the benefit payment, remit all or any portion of the amount or excess of the benefit payment.

1991, c. 44, s. 17(2)

(2) The portion of subsection 66(4) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:

Where person denied benefit due to departmental error, etc.

(4) Where the Minister is satisfied that, as a result of erroneous advice or administrative error in the administration of this Act, any person has been denied

32. Section 67 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (2):

Exception

(3) Where a person who has applied to receive a retirement pension attains the age of sixty-five years before the day on which the application is received, the pension is payable commencing with the latest of

    (a) the twelfth month before the month after the month in which the applicant applied or the month of January 1995, whichever is later,

    (b) the month in which the applicant reaches the age of sixty-five years, or

    (c) the month chosen by the applicant in the application.

Deemed application where disability pension ceased

(4) Where a disability pension is no longer payable because a decision that a person is disabled has been reversed or because a person has ceased to be disabled, the Minister may, on receipt of an application for a retirement pension, deem that application to have been received commencing with the latest of

    (a) the month after the month in which the disability pension application was made,

    (b) the month after the last month for which the disability pension was payable, or

    (c) the month in which the contributor reaches the age of sixty years.

33. The heading ``Appeals'' before section 81 of the Act is replaced by the following:

RECONSIDERATIONS AND APPEALS

1991, c. 44, s. 20

34. The portion of subsection 81(1) of the Act after paragraph (d) is replaced by the following:

the spouse, former spouse, estate, applicant, beneficiary or beneficiary's spouse or, subject to the regulations, any person on behalf thereof may, within ninety days after the day on which the spouse, former spouse, estate, applicant, beneficiary or beneficiary's spouse is notified in the prescribed manner of the decision or determination, or within such longer period as the Minister may either before or after the expiration of those ninety days allow, make a request to the Minister in the prescribed form and manner for a reconsideration of that decision or determination.

1991, c. 44, s. 21(1)

35. (1) Subsection 82(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Appeal to Review Tribunal

82. (1) A spouse, former spouse, estate, applicant, beneficiary or beneficiary's spouse who is dissatisfied with a decision of the Minister made under section 81 or subsection 84(2), or a person who made a request under subsection 27.1(1) of the Old Age Security Act who is dissatisfied with a decision of the Minister made under subsection 27.1(2) of that Act in respect of the request, or, subject to the regulations, any person on behalf thereof, may appeal the decision to a Review Tribunal in writing within ninety days or such longer period as the Commissioner of Review Tribunals may either before or after the expiration of those ninety days allow after the day on which the spouse, former spouse, estate, applicant, beneficiary or beneficiary's spouse is notified in the prescribed manner of the decision or the person is notified in writing of the Minister's decision and of the reasons for the decision.

R.S., c. 30 (2nd Supp.), s. 45(1)

(2) Subsection 82(9) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Remuneration and expenses

(9) The Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner and members of Review Tribunals shall be paid such reasonable remuneration and travel and living expenses in connection with the operation of Review Tribunals as are fixed by the Minister.

Expenses of appellant

(9.1) An appellant shall be paid such reasonable travel and living expenses incurred in Canada in connection with the hearing of the appeal as are fixed by the Minister.

Where appeal successful

(9.2) Notwithstanding subsection (9.1), where an appellant is successful, the appellant shall be paid such reasonable travel and living expenses in connection with the hearing of the appeal as are fixed by the Minister.

Expenses of other parties

(9.3) Any person added as a party to the appeal pursuant to subsection (10) shall be paid such reasonable travel and living expenses in connection with the hearing of the appeal as are fixed by the Minister.

1991, c. 44, s. 21(2)

(3) Subsection 82(11) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Powers of Review Tribunal

(11) A Review Tribunal may confirm or vary a decision of the Minister made under section 81 or subsection 84(2) or under subsection 27.1(2) of the Old Age Security Act and may take any action in relation to any of those decisions that might have been taken by the Minister under that section or either of those subsections, and the Commissioner of Review Tribunals shall thereupon notify the Minister and the other parties to the appeal of the Review Tribunal's decision and of the reasons for its decision.

(4) Subsection 82(9.1) of the Act, as enacted by subsection (2), does not apply in respect of any appeal that was filed before the day on which this section comes into force and in respect of which, on that day, there is no date set for the hearing of the appeal.

1991, c. 44, s. 22(1)

36. (1) Subsection 83(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Appeal to Pension Appeals Board

83. (1) A spouse, former spouse, estate, applicant, beneficiary or beneficiary's spouse or, subject to the regulations, any person on behalf thereof, or the Minister, if dissatisfied with a decision of a Review Tribunal made under section 82, other than a decision made in respect of an appeal referred to in subsection 28(1) of the Old Age Security Act, or under subsection 84(2), may, within ninety days after the day on which that decision is communicated to the spouse, former spouse, estate, applicant, beneficiary, beneficiary's spouse, person or Minister, or within such longer period as the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Pension Appeals Board may either before or after the expiration of those ninety days allow, apply in writing to the Chairman or Vice-Chairman for leave to appeal that decision to the Pension Appeals Board.

(2) Section 83 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (5):

Temporary members of the Board

(5.1) Subject to subsections (5.2) and (5.3), in addition to the members of the Pension Appeals Board for whom provision is made by subsection (5), any judge or former judge of the Federal Court or of a superior or district court of a province may, on the request of the Chairman of the Board made with the approval of the Governor in Council, act as a temporary member of the Board.

Consent required

(5.2) Except in relation to a former judge, no request may be made under subsection (5.1)

    (a) to a judge of the Federal Court, without the consent of the Chief Justice of the Court or of the Attorney General of Canada; or

    (b) to a judge of a superior or district court of a province, without the consent of the chief justice or chief judge of that court or of the attorney general of the province.

Approval of requests by Governor in Council

(5.3) The Governor in Council may approve the making of requests pursuant to subsection (5.1) in general terms or for particular periods or purposes, and may limit the number of persons who may act as temporary members of the Board under that subsection.

Remuneration of temporary members

(5.4) Each temporary member of the Board who is a former judge shall be paid such remuneration as may be fixed by the Minister.

Expenses of temporary members

(5.5) Each temporary member of the Board is entitled to be paid such travel and living expenses incurred by the member in the performance of duties and functions under this Act as may be fixed by the Minister.

R.S., c. 30 (2nd Supp.), s. 46(1)

37. Subsection 86(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Attendance before Pension Appeals Board

86. (1) Where on an appeal to the Pension Appeals Board from a decision of a Review Tribunal, an appellant is requested by the Board to attend before it on the hearing of the appeal and so attends, the appellant is entitled to be paid such reasonable travel and living expenses incurred in Canada and compensation for loss of remuneration as are fixed by the Minister.

Where appeal successful

(1.1) Notwithstanding subsection (1), where an appellant is successful, the appellant is entitled to be paid such reasonable travel and living expenses in connection with the hearing of the appeal and compensation for loss of remuneration as are fixed by the Minister.

Expenses of respondent and other parties

(1.2) Where on an appeal to the Pension Appeals Board from a decision of a Review Tribunal, a respondent or other party to the appeal is requested by the Board to attend before it on the hearing of the appeal and so attends, the respondent or other party shall be paid such reasonable travel and living expenses and compensation for loss of remuneration as are fixed by the Minister.

38. The Act is amended by adding the following after section 86:

Stay of benefits pending judicial review

86.1 Where a decision is made by a Review Tribunal or the Pension Appeals Board in respect of a benefit, the Minister may stay payment of the benefit until the latest of

    (a) the expiration of the period allowed for making an application for leave to appeal to the Pension Appeals Board,

    (b) the expiration of the period allowed for making an application under the Federal Court Act for judicial review of the decision, and

    (c) where Her Majesty has made an application under the Federal Court Act for judicial review of the decision, the month in which all proceedings in relation to the judicial review have been completed.

39. Subsection 89(2) of the Act is repealed.

40. Subsection 96(3) of the Act is repealed.

41. (1) Subsection 97(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Entry in record of earnings presumed to be accurate

97. (1) Notwithstanding section 96, except as provided in this section, any entry in the Record of Earnings relating to the earnings or a contribution of a contributor shall be conclusively presumed to be accurate and may not be called into question after four years have elapsed from the end of the year in which the entry was made.

(2) Section 97 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (2):

Removal of entry

(2.1) If, from information furnished pursuant to an agreement referred to in paragraph 105(1)(a), it appears to the Minister that an amount that is shown in the Record of Earnings to the account of a person as being a contribution under this Act relates instead to a contribution under the provincial pension plan of that province, the Minister may, at any time after that information is furnished, authorize the removal of that entry from the Record of Earnings.

42. Subsection 101(2) of the Act is repealed.

R.S., c. 18 (3rd Supp.), s. 30(1)

43. (1) Subsections 104(1) to (3) of the Act are replaced by the following:

Access to privileged information

104. (1) Except as provided in this section, all information with respect to any contributor or beneficiary obtained in the course of the administration of this Act is privileged, and no person shall knowingly, except as provided in this Act, make available or allow to be made available any such information to any person not legally entitled to it.

Exception

(2) Any information with respect to a contributor or beneficiary obtained by an officer, clerk or employee of Her Majesty in the course of the administration of this Act may, on request in writing to the Minister by or on behalf of the contributor or beneficiary or their legal representative, be made available or allowed to be made available to any person or authority named in the request on such conditions and in such circumstances as may be prescribed.

Exception

(3) Any information obtained by the Minister pursuant to this Act or any regulation may be made available to an officer, clerk or employee in the Department of National Revenue, the Department of Finance, the Department of Supply and Services, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, Statistics Canada or Canada Post, or to a person designated by the Minister as a health care professional where it is necessary to do so for the purposes of the administration of this Act.