Regulations Amending Certain Department of Justice Regulations (Miscellaneous Program): SOR/2018-254

Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 152, Number 25

Registration

SOR/2018-254 November 23, 2018

CRIMINAL CODE

P.C. 2018-1436 November 22, 2018

Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Justice, makes the annexed Regulations Amending Certain Department of Justice Regulations (Miscellaneous Program) pursuant to

• (a) subsections 117.15(1) ^{footnote a} and 810.3(5) ^{footnote b} of the Criminal Code ^{footnote c}; and
• (b) section 12 of An Act respecting the mandatory reporting of Internet child pornography by persons who provide an Internet service ^{footnote d}.

Regulations Amending Certain Department of Justice Regulations (Miscellaneous Program)

Criminal Code

Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and Other Weapons, Components and Parts of Weapons, Accessories, Cartridge Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited, Restricted or Non-Restricted

1 Section 5 of the English version of the Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and Other Weapons, Components and Parts of Weapons, Accessories, Cartridge Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited, Restricted or Non-Restricted ^{footnote 1} is replaced by the following:

5 The components and parts of weapons, the accessories and the cartridge magazines listed in Part 4 of the schedule are prohibited devices for the purposes of paragraphs (a) and (d) of the definition prohibited device in subsection 84(1) of the Criminal Code.

Samples of Bodily Substances Regulations

2 Subsection 19(2) of the French version of the Samples of Bodily Substances Regulations ^{footnote 2} is replaced by the following:

Avis du médecin requis

(2) Un échantillon de sang ne peut être prélevé d’une personne que si un médecin qualifié est convaincu que le prélèvement ne risque pas de mettre en danger la vie ou la santé de cette personne.

An Act respecting the mandatory reporting of Internet child pornography by persons who provide an Internet service

Internet Child Pornography Reporting Regulations

3 The portion of section 4 of the French version of the Internet Child Pornography Reporting Regulations ^{footnote 3} before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:

Analyse et communication des résultats

4 Dans les meilleurs délais après qu’une adresse Internet lui a été communiquée en application de l’article 2 de la Loi, l’organisme désigné établit si du matériel se trouvant à cette adresse semble constituer de la pornographie juvénile et, le cas échéant :

4 (1) The portion of section 6 of the Regulations before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:

Security measures

6 The designated organization must take measures to

(2) Paragraph 6(b) of the French version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

• b) protéger contre tout accès non autorisé les informations qu’il a obtenues ou générées dans l’exercice de ses fonctions, rôle et activités prévus sous le régime de la Loi;

(3) Paragraph 6(c) of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

• (c) ensure that its personnel are capable of fulfilling their duties in the discharge of the designated organization’s role, functions and activities under the Act, including measures relating to their selection and training.

Coming into Force

5 These Regulations come into force on the day on which they are registered.

REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS STATEMENT

(This statement is not part of the Regulations.)

Issues

The amendments respond to recommendations made by the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations with respect to three regulations. The first two regulations were made pursuant to the Criminal Code: The Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and other Weapons, Components and Parts of Weapons, Accessories, Cartridge Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited, Restricted or Non-restricted (the “Firearms Classification Regulations”) and the Samples of Bodily Substances Regulations (the “Bodily Substances Regulations”). The third Regulations was made pursuant to An Act respecting the mandatory reporting of Internet child pornography by persons who provide an Internet service: the Internet Child Pornography Reporting Regulations (the “Child Pornography Regulations”). The amendments to the Firearms Classification Regulations and the Bodily Substances Regulations are of a technical nature and address discrepancies between the French and the English versions of the regulations. The amendments to the Child Pornography Regulations also address discrepancies between the French and English versions of the Regulations and, in addition, delete redundant language and clarify language to better reflect the policy intent of the Regulations.

Firearms Classification Regulations

The amendments to the Firearms Classification Regulations would amend the English version of section 5 to clarify an ambiguity between it and the French version. Section 5 of the English version reads:

• The components and parts of weapons, accessories, and cartridge magazines listed in Part 4 of the schedule are prohibited devices for the purposes of paragraphs (a) and (d) of the definition “prohibited device” in subsection 84(1) of the Criminal Code.

This section could be interpreted in two ways: either that the “components and parts” could be of weapons, accessories and cartridge magazines; or that it was the “components and parts” of weapons only, and not of accessories and cartridge magazines.

Section 5 of the French version reads:

• Les éléments ou pièces d’armes, les accessoires et les chargeurs énumérés à la partie 4 de l’annexe sont désignés des dispositifs prohibés pour l’application des alinéas a) et d) de la définition de « dispositif prohibé » au paragraphe 84(1) du Code criminel.

The French version of section 5 is clearer and supports the latter interpretation as does the definition of “prohibited device” in subsection 84(1) of the Criminal Code. Accordingly, section 5 of the English version is amended to more closely reflect the French version, as well as the definition of “prohibited device” found in the Criminal Code.

Bodily Substances Regulations

The Bodily Substances Regulations are in three parts, corresponding to the three types of court orders in the Criminal Code that give authority for the taking of a bodily substance as a condition of a court order: Part I, probation orders; Part II, conditional sentences; and Part III, peace bonds. The intent was that each Part of the Regulations was to be identical, repeating the same regulatory requirements for the taking, analyzing, storing, handling and destruction of bodily samples for each of the three types of court orders that allow a court to impose a condition to provide bodily samples.

One of the regulatory requirements for the taking of blood samples requires that a qualified “medical practitioner” be satisfied that the taking of the sample would not “endanger the health” of the individual. The English version properly uses identical wording for each of the three parts (subsections 5(2), 12(2) and 19(2)); that is:

• A blood sample may be taken from a person only if a qualified medical practitioner is satisfied that taking the sample would not endanger the person’s life or health.

The French version, however, had slightly different wording in Part III (subsection 19(2)) than in Parts I and II (subsections 5(2) and 12(2)). Subsection 19(2) read:

• Un échantillon de sang ne peut être prélevé sur une personne que si un médecin qualifié est convaincu que le prélèvement ne risque pas de mettre en danger la vie ou la santé de cette dernière.

Subsections 5(2) and 12(2) use slightly different language:

• Un échantillon de sang ne peut être prélevé d’une personne que si un médecin qualifié est convaincu que le prélèvement ne risque pas de mettre en danger la vie ou la santé de cette personne.

The amendments to the French version of subsection 19(2) reflect the language used in subsections 5(2) and 12(2), as well as the English version.

Child Pornography Regulations

The amendment to section 4 of the French version addresses a discrepancy between the French and the English versions. Section 4 of the Child Pornography Regulations reads:

• 4 Dès que possible après qu’une adresse Internet lui a été communiquée en application de l’article 2 de la Loi, l’organisme désigné établit si du matériel se trouvant à cette adresse semble constituer de la pornographie juvénile et, le cas échéant :
  • a) il établit, si possible, le lieu géographique du serveur vers lequel pointe l’adresse Internet et celui du serveur qui héberge le matériel qui semble constituer de la pornographie juvénile;
  • b) par des moyens sécuritaires, il met les renseignements ci-après à la disposition de tous les organismes canadiens compétents chargés du contrôle d’application de la loi :
    • (i) l’adresse Internet communiquée,
    • (ii) la description des lieux géographiques qu’il a été en mesure d’établir en application de l’alinéa a),
    • (iii) tout autre renseignement en sa possession qui pourrait être utile à l’enquête de ces organismes.

The English version of section 4 uses the phrase “as soon as feasible.” The amendment to section 4 of the French version replaces the use of “dès que possible” with “dans les meilleurs délais.”

The amendment to section 6 addresses a redundancy. Section 6 reads:

• 6 The designated organization must take reasonable measures to
  • (a) ensure its continued ability to discharge its role, functions and activities provided under the Act, including measures relating to the protection of its physical facilities and technical infrastructure, risk prevention and mitigation, emergency management and service resumption;
  • (b) protect from unauthorized access any information obtained or generated by the designated organization in the course of discharging its role, functions or activities under the Act; and
  • (c) ensure that all of its personnel have the necessary security clearance and training to discharge the designated organization’s role, functions and activities under the Act.

The term “reasonable” is unnecessary to accomplish the goals set out in paragraphs 6(a) to (c). The amendment removes the qualifying term “reasonable” from the phrase “take reasonable measures.”

An additional amendment to paragraph 6(b) of the French version is made. That provision reads:

• b) protéger contre tout emploi non autorisé les informations qu’il a obtenues ou générées dans l’exercice de ses fonctions, rôle et activités prévus sous le régime de la Loi;

The English version uses the phrase “unauthorized access.” The amendment modifies the French version to mirror the word “access” used in the English version.

Finally, an amendment is made to the term “necessary security clearance” as set out in paragraph 6(c). Concerns have been expressed that this phrase is ambiguous. Replacing “necessary security clearance” with more detailed language that better describes the objective of the provision, which has always been to require the Organization to take measures to ensure its personnel are adequately screened and trained to carry out their duties.

Background

The Firearms Classification Regulations provide for the classification of firearms and other weapons and complete the definitions set out in subsection 84(1) of the Criminal Code.

The Firearms Classification Regulations establish the following classes of firearms, other weapons, and certain regulated devices and ammunition: (1) prohibited firearms, (2) restricted firearms, (3) prohibited weapons, (4) prohibited devices, and (5) prohibited ammunition. Subsection 84(1) provides for a sixth class, being “restricted weapons,” but the Firearms Classification Regulations did not include any restricted weapons.

In the Supreme Court of Canada’s 2006 decision in R v Shoker, it was held that there was no lawful authority in the Criminal Code to require an offender to provide a bodily sample to ensure compliance with drug and alcohol prohibition conditions. As a result, the Criminal Code was amended through former Bill C-30, the Response to the Supreme Court of Canada Decision in R v Shoker Act (S.C. 2011, c. 7). The amendments provided criminal courts authority to require individuals to provide bodily samples to ensure compliance with court orders to abstain from drugs and alcohol as a condition of probation (section 732.1), conditional sentences (section 742.3) and peace bonds (section 810.3). They also provided the authority to enact regulations in connection with such authorities. The Bodily Substances Regulations were enacted on December 12, 2014.

An Act respecting the mandatory reporting of Internet child pornography by persons who provide an Internet service was brought into force in 2011. The Act creates a duty for Canadian service providers to report to police Internet child pornography that they find on their service or that is reported to them by their clients. In relation to the latter duty, the Canadian service provider must report those incidents to the organization designated by the Regulations. The Child Pornography Regulations provide the method of reporting by service providers as well as designate the organization and govern its role, functions, and activities in relation to information received under the Act.

Objectives

This proposal

• (1) eliminates any ambiguity that presently exists with the English version of section 5 of the Firearms Classification Regulations and ensures consistency between the English and French versions;
• (2) amends the French version of subsection 19(2) of the Bodily Substances Regulations to conform to the language used in subsections 5(2) and 12(2), thereby ensuring consistency in the language used in the French version as well as with the English version; and
• (3) amends the French version of section 4 and paragraph 6(b) of the Child Pornography Regulations to ensure consistency between the English and French versions, amends section 6 to remove redundant language, and amends paragraph 6(c) to clarify a requirement.

Description

This proposal amends the English version of section 5 of the Firearms Classification Regulations to read, “The components and parts of weapons, the accessories and the cartridge magazines listed in Part 4 of the schedule . . . .” The first sentence of the English version places a “the” in front of “accessories” and “cartridge magazines” to clarify that “components and parts” applies only to weapons and not to accessories and cartridge magazines.

It also amends the French version of the Bodily Substances Regulations to replace the word “sur” with “d’une” and the word “dernière” with “personne” in subsection 19(2) allowing it to conform to subsections 5(2) and 12(2) and also ensuring consistency with the English version.

Finally, amendments are made to the Child Pornography Regulations to replace the use of “dès que possible” with “dans les meilleurs délais” in section 4; to remove the qualifying term “reasonable” from the phrase “take reasonable measures” in section 6; to modify the French version of paragraph 6(b) to mirror the word “access” used in the English version; and to replace “necessary security clearance” with more detailed language that better describes the objective of the provision, which has always been to require the Organization to take measures to ensure its personnel are adequately screened and trained to carry out their duties.

“One-for-One” Rule

The “One-for-One” Rule does not apply to these amendments, as there is no change in administrative costs to business.

Small business lens

The small business lens does not apply to these amendments, as there are no costs (or insignificant costs) on small business.

Consultation

Although there have been no public consultations on the amendments, they respond to recommendations from the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations, a Committee of Parliament whose deliberations on these matters have been public. Given the technical nature of these amendments, it is not expected that stakeholders will be adversely impacted by, or have concerns with them.

Rationale

For the Firearms Classification Regulations, adding “the” in front of “accessories” and “cartridge magazines” ensures that the English version of section 5 can only be interpreted as meaning that “components and parts” applies to weapons only and does not apply to accessories and cartridge magazines.

For the Bodily Substances Regulations, amending the French version to replace the word “sur” with “d’une” and the word “dernière” with “personne” in subsection 19(2) ensures that the same text is used as in subsections 5(2) and 12(2) and ensures consistency with the English version.

For the Child Pornography Regulations, amending the French version of section 4 and paragraph 6(b) of the Child Pornography Regulations would ensure consistency between the English and French versions, amending section 6 would remove redundant language, and amending paragraph 6(c) would replace an ambiguous term to reflect the policy intent of the Regulations.

Contact

Ryan Shea
Policy Analyst
Department of Justice Canada
Criminal Law Policy Section
Telephone: 613-698-0027