Vol. 148, No. 4 — February 12, 2014
Registration
SI/2014-8 February 12, 2014
ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN 2013 ACT, NO. 1
Order Fixing February 6, 2014 as the Day on which Sections 170 and 171 of the Act Come into Force
P.C. 2014-15 January 28, 2014
His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, pursuant to section 172 of the Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 1, chapter 33 of the Statutes of Canada, 2013, fixes February 6, 2014 as the day on which sections 170 and 171 of that Act come into force.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order.)
Proposal
Pursuant to section 172 of the Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 1 (the Act), which was assented to on June 26, 2013, this Order in Council (OIC) brings into force sections 170 and 171 of that Act on February 6, 2014. These provisions amend the Citizenship Act.
Objective
This Order brings into force sections of the Act which exempt from the application of the User Fees Act fees for services provided in the administration of the Citizenship Act.
The Order also brings into force a section of the Act amending the Citizenship Act to expand the Governor in Council’s authority to make regulations respecting fees for services provided in the administration of that Act and cases in which those fees may be waived.
Bringing these sections of the Act into force will allow the Government to make and to adopt in a timely and efficient manner regulations to set and collect citizenship service fees, in line with modern cost-recovery, program and operational governmental philosophies.
Background
Sections 170 and 171 of the Act amend the Citizenship Act to, respectively,
- Provide broadened authority for the Governor in Council to make regulations respecting fees for services provided in the administration of the Citizenship Act and cases in which these fees may be waived; and
- Exempt from the application of the User Fees Act fees for services provided in the administration of the Citizenship Act.
Implications
This OIC will bring into force legislative provisions exempting fees for citizenship services from the application of the User Fees Act. The provisions will also provide expanded authority for the Governor in Council to make regulations respecting fees for citizenship services and cases where those fees may be waived.
Consultation
The ability for fees to be set in a timely and efficient manner for citizenship services was introduced through Budget 2013. There have been minimal reactions in the media.
Departmental contact
For more information, please contact
Karine Paré, CPA, CMA
Director
Cost Management Division
Financial Management Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Email: Karine.Pare@cic.gc.ca