Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act (S.C. 2019, c. 1)

Marginal note:Assurance of compliance or notice of violation

• 91 (1) If the Minister has reasonable grounds to believe that a person or vessel has committed a violation, the Minister may

  • (a) enter into an assurance of compliance with the person or vessel that

    • (i) identifies the violation and provides that the person or vessel will comply with the provision to which the violation relates within the period, and be subject to the terms and conditions, specified in the assurance,

    • (ii) sets out the amount and form of any security that, pending compliance with the assurance, must be deposited with the Minister, and

    • (iii) sets out the penalty that the person or vessel would have been liable to pay for the violation if the assurance had not been entered into; or

  • (b) issue, and cause to be served on the person or vessel, a notice of violation that names the person or vessel, identifies the violation and sets out

    • (i) the penalty that the person or vessel is liable to pay for the violation,

    • (ii) the period, being 30 days after the day on which the notice is served, within which the penalty must be paid or a review must be requested, and

    • (iii) particulars of the manner in which, and the address at which, the penalty must be paid or a review must be requested.

• Marginal note:Extension of period

  (2) The Minister may extend the period specified under subparagraph (1)(a)(i) if the Minister is satisfied that the person or vessel is unable to comply with the assurance of compliance for reasons beyond the person’s or vessel’s control.

• Marginal note:Short-form descriptions in notices of violation

  (3) The Minister may establish, in respect of each violation, a short-form description to be used in notices of violation.

Marginal note:Deemed violation

• 92 (1) A person or vessel that enters into an assurance of compliance under paragraph 91(1)(a) is, unless a review is requested under subsection (2), deemed to have committed the violation in respect of which the assurance was entered into.

• Marginal note:Request for review

  (2) A person or vessel that enters into an assurance of compliance may, within 48 hours after the assurance is signed, unless a notice of default is served within that period under subsection 94(1), file a request with the Transportation Appeal Tribunal for a review of the facts of the violation, in which case the assurance is deemed to be a notice of violation and a review under paragraph 97(1)(b) of the facts of the violation and of the amount of the penalty is deemed to have been requested.

Marginal note:When assurance of compliance complied with

93 If the Minister is satisfied that a person or vessel that has entered into an assurance of compliance under paragraph 91(1)(a) has complied with it, he or she must cause a notice to that effect to be served on the person or vessel and, on the service of the notice,

• (a) no further proceedings may be taken against the person or vessel with respect to the violation in respect of which the assurance was entered into; and

• (b) any security deposited under subparagraph 91(1)(a)(ii) must be returned to the person or vessel.

Marginal note:When assurance of compliance not complied with

• 94 (1) If the Minister is of the opinion that a person or vessel that has entered into an assurance of compliance under paragraph 91(1)(a) has not complied with it, the Minister may cause a notice of default to be served on the person or vessel to the effect that, unless a member determines under section 95, or an appeal panel decides under section 98, that the assurance has been complied with,

  • (a) the person or vessel is liable to pay double the amount of the penalty set out in the assurance; or

  • (b) the security deposited under subparagraph 91(1)(a)(ii) is forfeited to Her Majesty in right of Canada.

• Marginal note:Contents of notice

  (2) The notice must include the address at which, and the date, being 30 days after the day on which the notice is served, on or before which a request for a review may be filed and the particulars concerning the procedure for requesting a review.

• Marginal note:No set-off

  (3) On the service of a notice of default, the person or vessel served has no right of set-off against any amount spent by the person or vessel under the assurance of compliance.

Marginal note:Manner of service

• 94.1 (1) A notice referred to in any of sections 91, 93, 94 and 108 is to be served

  • (a) in the case of an individual,

    • (i) by leaving a copy of it with the individual at any place or with someone who appears to be an adult member of the same household at the individual’s last known address or usual place of residence or, in the case of an individual under the age of 18, with a parent or other person having custody of them or exercising parental authority over them, or

    • (ii) by sending a copy of it by registered mail, courier or fax or other electronic means to the individual’s last known address or usual place of residence;

  • (b) in the case of a person other than an individual,

    • (i) by leaving a copy of it with their representative or with an officer or other individual who appears to control or manage the person’s or representative’s head office or place of business, or

    • (ii) by sending a copy of it by registered mail, courier or fax or other electronic means to their representative, to an individual referred to in subparagraph (i) or to the person’s or representative’s head office or place of business;

  • (c) in the case of a vessel,

    • (i) by delivering a copy of it personally to the master or another individual who is, or appears to be, in charge of the vessel,

    • (ii) by posting a copy of it on any conspicuous part of the vessel,

    • (iii) by leaving a copy of it with the owner or operator of the vessel, with the owner’s or operator’s representative or with an officer or other individual who appears to control or manage the owner’s, operator’s or representative’s head office or place of business, or

    • (iv) by sending a copy of it by registered mail, courier or fax or other electronic means to the vessel or to a person referred to in subparagraph (i) or (iii) or to their head office or place of business.

• Marginal note:Proof of service

  (2) Service may be proved by

  • (a) an acknowledgement of service signed by or on behalf of the person or vessel served, specifying the date and location of service;

  • (b) a certificate of service, signed by the person who effected the service, indicating the name of the person or vessel served and the means by which and day on which service was effected; or

  • (c) a record of electronic transmission setting out the date and time of transmission.

• Marginal note:Date service effective

  (3) In the absence of an acknowledgement of service or a certificate of service, service is considered effective,

  • (a) in the case of service by registered mail or courier, on the 10th day after the day on which the notice is sent, as indicated on the receipt issued by the postal or courier service; or

  • (b) in the case of service by fax or other electronic means, on the day on which it is sent, as indicated on the record of transmission.

Marginal note:Request for review

• 95 (1) A person or vessel served with a notice under subsection 94(1) may, no later than the date specified in the notice or within any further time that the Transportation Appeal Tribunal on application may allow, file a written request for a review of the Minister’s decision made under that subsection with the Tribunal.

• Marginal note:Time and place for review

  (2) On receipt of the request, the Transportation Appeal Tribunal must appoint a time and place for the review and must notify the Minister and the person or vessel that filed the request of that time and place in writing.

• Marginal note:Review procedure

  (3) The member of the Transportation Appeal Tribunal who is assigned to conduct the review must provide the Minister and the person or vessel with an opportunity that is consistent with procedural fairness and natural justice to present evidence and make representations.

• Marginal note:Burden of proof

  (4) The burden is on the Minister to establish that the person or vessel did not comply with the assurance of compliance referred to in the notice. The person is not required, and must not be compelled, to give any evidence or testimony in the matter.

• Marginal note:Certain defences not available

  (5) Despite subsections 90(9) and (10), a person or vessel does not have a defence by reason that the person or vessel exercised due diligence to comply with the assurance of compliance.

• Marginal note:Determination by member

  (6) At the conclusion of the review, the member who conducts the review may confirm the Minister’s decision or determine that the person or vessel has complied with the assurance of compliance and must without delay inform the parties of his or her decision.

Marginal note:Return of security

96 Any security deposited under subparagraph 91(1)(a)(ii) must be returned to the person or vessel if

• (a) a notice is served under subsection 94(1) and the person or vessel pays double the amount of the penalty set out in the assurance of compliance; or

• (b) a member determines under subsection 95(6), or an appeal panel decides under subsection 98(3), that the assurance has been complied with.

Marginal note:Notice of violation — options

• 97 (1) A person or vessel served with a notice of violation under paragraph 91(1)(b) must

  • (a) pay the amount of the penalty; or

  • (b) within 30 days after the day on which the notice was served or any further time that the Transportation Appeal Tribunal on application allows, file with the Transportation Appeal Tribunal a written request for a review of the facts of the violation or the amount of the penalty.

• Marginal note:When review not requested

  (2) If a review is not requested within the period referred to in paragraph (1)(b), or the amount of the penalty is paid, the person or vessel is considered to have committed the violation in respect of which the notice was served and proceedings in respect of the violation are ended.

• Marginal note:Time and place for review

  (3) On receipt of a request filed under paragraph (1)(b), the Transportation Appeal Tribunal must appoint a time and place for the review and must notify the Minister and the person or vessel that filed the request of that time and place in writing.

• Marginal note:Review procedure

  (4) The member of the Transportation Appeal Tribunal assigned to conduct the review must provide the Minister and the person or vessel with an opportunity that is consistent with procedural fairness and natural justice to present evidence and make representations.

• Marginal note:Burden of proof

  (5) The burden is on the Minister to establish that the person or vessel committed the violation referred to in the notice. The person is not required, and must not be compelled, to give any evidence or testimony in the matter.

• Marginal note:Determination by member

  (6) At the conclusion of the review, the member who conducts the review must, without delay and in writing, inform the Minister and the person or vessel that is alleged to have committed a violation

  • (a) that the person or vessel has not committed a violation, in which case, subject to section 98, no further proceedings under this Act are to be taken against the person or vessel in respect of the alleged violation; or

  • (b) that the person or vessel has committed a violation and, subject to subsections 90(4) and (5) and regulations made under paragraph 109(b), of the amount determined by the member to be payable to the Transportation Appeal Tribunal by or on behalf of the person or vessel and the period within which it must be paid.

Marginal note:Right of appeal

• 98 (1) The Minister or the person or vessel that requested the review may, within 30 days after the day on which a determination is made under subsection 95(6) or 97(6), appeal the determination to the Transportation Appeal Tribunal.

• Marginal note:Loss of right of appeal

  (2) A party that does not appear at the review hearing is not entitled to appeal the determination, unless they establish that there was sufficient reason to justify their absence.

• Marginal note:Disposition of appeal

  (3) At the conclusion of the review, the appeal panel of the Transportation Appeal Tribunal that is assigned to hear the appeal may

  • (a) in the case of a determination made under subsection 95(6), dismiss the appeal or allow the appeal and substitute its own decision; or

  • (b) in the case of a determination made under subsection 97(6), dismiss the appeal, or allow the appeal and, subject to subsections 90(4) and (5) and regulations made under paragraph 109(b), substitute its own decision.

  The appeal panel must inform the parties of its decision without delay and must specify the period within which any amount determined by the appeal panel to be payable to the Transportation Appeal Tribunal must be paid.

Recovery of Debts

Marginal note:Debts due to Her Majesty

• 99 (1) The following amounts constitute debts due to Her Majesty in right of Canada that may be recovered in the Federal Court or any other court of competent jurisdiction:

  • (a) the amount of a penalty set out in a notice of violation referred to in paragraph 91(1)(b), from the expiry of the period specified in the notice for the payment of that amount, unless a review is requested under subsection 97(1);

  • (b) the amount of a penalty set out in a notice of default referred to in subsection 94(1), from the time the notice is served, unless a review is requested under subsection 95(1);

  • (c) the amount of a penalty determined by a member under section 97, or decided by an appeal panel under section 98, from the expiry of the period specified in the decision for the payment of that amount; and

  • (d) the amount of any costs and expenses referred to in subsection (3).

• Marginal note:Limitation or prescription period

  (2) Proceedings to recover a debt referred to in subsection (1) may be commenced no later than five years after the day on which the debt becomes payable.

• Marginal note:Liability

  (3) A person or vessel that is liable to pay an amount referred to in paragraph (1)(a), (b) or (c) is also liable for the amount of any costs and expenses incurred in attempting to recover that amount.

Marginal note:Certificate of default

• 100 (1) All or part of a debt referred to in subsection 99(1) in respect of which there is a default of payment may be certified by the Minister or the Transportation Appeal Tribunal, as the case may be.

• Marginal note:Effect of registration

  (2) On production to the Federal Court, a certificate made under subsection (1) is to be registered in that Court and, when registered, has the same force and effect, and proceedings may be taken in connection with it, as if it were a judgment obtained in that Court for a debt of the amount specified in it and all costs and expenses attendant on its registration.

General

Marginal note:Proof of violation by vessel

101 It is sufficient proof that a vessel has committed a violation to establish that the act or omission that constitutes the violation was committed by a person in charge of the vessel, whether or not the person has been identified.

Marginal note:Party to violation committed by vessel

• 102 (1) If a vessel commits a violation under this Act and a person in charge of the vessel directed, authorized, assented to, acquiesced in or participated in the commission of the violation, that person is a party to and liable for the violation, whether or not the vessel has been proceeded against under sections 91 to 100.

• Marginal note:Party to violation committed by corporation

  (2) If a corporation commits a violation under this Act, any director, officer or agent or mandatary of the corporation that directed, authorized, assented to, acquiesced in or participated in the commission of the violation is a party to and liable for the violation, whether or not the corporation has been identified or proceeded against under sections 91 to 100.