Aeronautics Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. A-2)

Marginal note:Suspension, etc., on other grounds

• 7.1 (1) If the Minister decides to suspend, cancel or refuse to renew a Canadian aviation document on the grounds that

  • (a) the holder of the document is incompetent,

  • (b) the holder or any aircraft, airport or other facility in respect of which the document was issued ceases to meet the qualifications necessary for the issuance of the document or to fulfil the conditions subject to which the document was issued, or

  • (c) the Minister is of the opinion that the public interest and, in particular, the aviation record of the holder of the document or of any principal of the holder, as defined in regulations made under paragraph 6.71(3)( a), warrant it,

  the Minister shall, by personal service or by registered or certified mail sent to the holder or the owner or operator of the aircraft, airport or facility, as the case may be, at their latest known address, notify that person of the Minister’s decision.

• Marginal note:Contents of notice

  (2) A notice under subsection (1) shall be in such form as the Governor in Council may by regulation prescribe and shall, in addition to any other information that may be so prescribed,

  • (a) indicate, as the case requires,

    • (i) [Repealed, 2001, c. 29, s. 37]

    • (ii) the nature of the incompetence of the holder of the Canadian aviation document that the Minister believes exists, the qualifications necessary for the issuance of the document that the Minister believes the holder of the document or the aircraft, airport or facility in respect of which the document was issued ceases to have or the conditions subject to which the document was issued that the Minister believes are no longer being met or complied with, or

    • (iii) the elements of the public interest on which the decision of the Minister is based; and

  • (b) state the date, being thirty days after the notice is served or sent, on or before which and the address at which a request for a review of the decision of the Minister is to be filed in the event the holder of the document or the owner or operator concerned wishes to have the decision reviewed.

• Marginal note:Effective date of Minister’s decision

  (2.1) The Minister’s decision to suspend or cancel a Canadian aviation document takes effect on the date of receipt of the notice under subsection (1) by the person on whom it is served or to whom it is sent, unless the notice indicates that the decision is to take effect on a later date.

• Marginal note:Request for review of Minister’s decision

  (3) Where the holder of a Canadian aviation document or the owner or operator of any aircraft, airport or other facility in respect of which a Canadian aviation document is issued who is affected by a decision of the Minister referred to in subsection (1) wishes to have the decision reviewed, he shall, on or before the date that is thirty days after the notice is served on or sent to him under that subsection or within such further time as the Tribunal, on application by the holder, owner or operator, may allow, in writing file with the Tribunal at the address set out in the notice a request for a review of the decision.

• Marginal note:Request for review not a stay of suspension, etc.

  (4) A request for a review of the decision of the Minister under subsection (3) does not operate as a stay of the suspension, cancellation or refusal to renew to which the decision relates.

• Marginal note:Appointment of review time

  (5) On receipt of a request filed in accordance with subsection (3), the Tribunal shall forthwith appoint a time, as soon as practicable after the request is filed, and place for the review of the decision referred to in the request and in writing notify the Minister and the person who filed the request of the time and place so appointed.

• Marginal note:Review procedure

  (6) At the time and place appointed under subsection (5) for the review of the decision, the member of the Tribunal assigned to conduct the review shall provide the Minister and the holder of the Canadian aviation document or the owner or operator affected by the decision, as the case may be, with an opportunity consistent with procedural fairness and natural justice to present evidence and make representations in relation to the suspension, cancellation or refusal to renew under review.

• Marginal note:Determination of Tribunal member

  (7) On a review under this section of a decision of the Minister to suspend, cancel or refuse to renew a Canadian aviation document, the member of the Tribunal who conducts the review may determine the matter by confirming the Minister’s decision or by referring the matter back to the Minister for reconsideration.

• Marginal note:Effect of decision pending reconsideration

  (8) If a decision to suspend or cancel a Canadian aviation document is referred back to the Minister for reconsideration under subsection (7), the decision of the Minister remains in effect until the reconsideration is concluded. However, the member, after considering any representations made by the parties, may grant a stay of the decision until the reconsideration is concluded, if he or she is satisfied that granting a stay would not constitute a threat to aviation safety.

• (9) [Repealed, 2001, c. 29, s. 37]

Marginal note:Right of appeal

• 7.2 (1) Within thirty days after the determination,

  • (a) a person affected by the determination may appeal a determination made under subsection 6.72(4), paragraph 7(7)(a) or subsection 7.1(7) to the Tribunal; or

  • (b) a person affected by the determination or the Minister may appeal a determination made under subsection 6.9(8) or paragraph 7(7)(b) to the Tribunal.

• Marginal note:Loss of right of appeal

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

• Marginal note:Disposition of appeal

  (3) The appeal panel of the Tribunal assigned to hear the appeal may

  • (a) in the case of a determination made under subsection 6.72(4), paragraph 7(7)(a) or subsection 7.1(7), dismiss the appeal or refer the matter back to the Minister for reconsideration; or

  • (b) in the case of a determination made under subsection 6.9(8) or paragraph 7(7)(b), dismiss the appeal, or allow the appeal and substitute its own decision.

• Marginal note:Effect of decision pending reconsideration

  (4) If a decision to suspend or cancel a Canadian aviation document is referred back to the Minister for reconsideration under paragraph (3)(a), the decision of the Minister remains in effect until the reconsideration is concluded. However, the appeal panel, after considering any representations made by the parties, may grant a stay of the decision made under subsection 7.1(7) until the reconsideration is concluded, if it is satisfied that granting a stay would not constitute a threat to aviation safety or security.

Marginal note:Default in payment

• 7.21 (1) The Minister may suspend, or refuse to issue, amend or renew, a Canadian aviation document if a certificate under section 7.92, paragraph 8(b) or subsection 8.1(4) has been issued to the Minister in respect of the applicant for, or the holder of, the document or in respect of the owner or operator of an aircraft, aerodrome, airport or other facility to which the document relates.

• Marginal note:Notice

  (2) The Minister shall, by personal service or by registered or certified mail sent to the applicant, holder, owner or operator, as the case may be, at their latest known address, notify that person of a decision made under subsection (1) and, in the case of a suspension, of the effective date of the suspension, which shall not be earlier than thirty days after the notice is served or sent.

Prohibitions, Offences and Punishment

Marginal note:Prohibitions

• 7.3 (1) No person shall

  • (a) knowingly make any false representation for the purpose of obtaining a Canadian aviation document or any privilege accorded thereby;

  • (b) wilfully destroy any document required under this Part to be kept;

  • (c) make or cause to be made any false entry in a record required under this Part to be kept with intent to mislead or wilfully omit to make any entry in any such record;

  • (d) wilfully obstruct any person who is performing duties under this Part;

  • (e) except as authorized under this Part, wilfully operate or otherwise deal with an aircraft that has been detained under this Part;

  • (f) wilfully do any act or thing in respect of which a Canadian aviation document is required except under and in accordance with the required document; or

  • (g) wilfully do any act or thing in respect of which a Canadian aviation document is required where

    • (i) the document that has been issued in respect of that act or thing is suspended, or

    • (ii) an order referred to in subsection 7.5(1) prohibits the person from doing that act or thing.

• Marginal note:Contravention of subsection (1)

  (2) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of

  • (a) an indictable offence; or

  • (b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.

• Marginal note:Contravention of Part, regulation, etc.

  (3) Except as otherwise provided by this Part, every person who contravenes a provision of this Part or any regulation, notice, order, security measure or emergency direction made under this Part is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

• Marginal note:Contravention of subsection 4.81(1)

  (3.1) Despite subsections (4) and (5), every air carrier or operator of an aviation reservation system who fails to comply with a requirement under subsection 4.81(1) or 4.82(4) or (5) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to a fine of not more than $50,000.

• Marginal note:Punishment, individuals

  (4) An individual who is convicted of an offence under this Part punishable on summary conviction is liable to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars and, in the case of an offence referred to in subsection (1), to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both fine and imprisonment.

• Marginal note:Punishment, corporations

  (5) A corporation that is convicted of an offence under this Part punishable on summary conviction is liable to a fine not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars.

• Marginal note:Punishment — ANS Corporation

  (5.1) Notwithstanding subsection (5), where the ANS Corporation is convicted of contravening an order made under subsection 4.91(1), the ANS Corporation is liable to a fine not exceeding $25,000 for each day or part of a day the offence continues.

• Marginal note:Punishment, subsequent offences

  (6) Where a person is convicted of a second or subsequent offence under this Part, the fine shall not be less than two hundred and fifty dollars.

• Marginal note:Imprisonment precluded in certain cases

  (7) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this Part punishable on summary conviction, no imprisonment may be imposed as punishment for the offence or in default of payment of any fine imposed as punishment unless the offence is an offence referred to in subsection (1).

• Marginal note:Idem

  (7.1) Where a person is proceeded against under section 8.4 and is convicted of an offence under this Part, no imprisonment may be imposed as punishment for the offence or in default of payment of any fine imposed as punishment in relation to the offence.

• Marginal note:Recovery of fines

  (8) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this Part and the fine that is imposed is not paid when required, on production in the superior court of any province, the conviction shall be registered in the court and when registered has the same force and effect, and all proceedings may be taken thereon, as if the conviction were a judgment in that court obtained by Her Majesty in right of Canada against the convicted person for a debt of the amount of the fine.

• Marginal note:Recovery of costs and charges

  (9) All reasonable costs and charges attendant on the registration of the conviction are recoverable in like manner as if they had been registered as part of the conviction.

Marginal note:Continuing offence

7.31 Where an offence under this Part is committed or continued on more than one flight or segment of a flight, it shall be deemed to be a separate offence for each flight or segment of a flight on which the offence is committed or continued.

Marginal note:Court may order forfeiture

• 7.4 (1) Where a person is convicted on indictment of an offence referred to in paragraph 7.3(1)(f) or (g) in relation to the operation of a commercial air service, the court may, in addition to any other punishment it may impose, order that any aircraft used in the commercial air service be forfeited and, on the making of such an order, the aircraft is forfeited to Her Majesty in right of Canada.

• Marginal note:Application by person claiming interest

  (2) Where any aircraft is forfeited under subsection (1), any person, in this section referred to as the “applicant”, other than a person convicted of the offence that resulted in the forfeiture, who claims an interest in the aircraft may, within 30 days after the forfeiture, apply by notice in writing to a judge of the superior court of the province where the aircraft is situated for an order under subsection (5).

• Marginal note:Date of hearing

  (3) A judge to whom an application is made under subsection (2) shall fix a day not less than thirty days after the date of filing of the application for the hearing thereof.

• Marginal note:Notice

  (4) An applicant shall serve a notice of the application and of the day fixed for the hearing of the application on the Minister at least fifteen days before the day so fixed.

• Marginal note:Order by judge

  (5) Where, on the hearing of an application, the judge is satisfied that the applicant

  • (a) is innocent of any complicity in the offence that resulted in the forfeiture and of any collusion in relation to the offence with the person convicted thereof, and

  • (b) exercised reasonable care to satisfy himself or herself that the aircraft concerned was not likely to be used in contravention of this Part or any regulation, notice, order, security measure or emergency direction made under this Part,

  the applicant is entitled to an order by the judge declaring that the applicant’s interest is not affected by the forfeiture and declaring the nature and extent of that interest.

• Marginal note:Appeal

  (6) An appeal from an order or refusal to make an order under subsection (5) lies to the court to which an appeal may be taken from an order of the superior court in the province in which the forfeiture occurred and the appeal shall be asserted, heard and decided according to the ordinary procedure governing appeals to the court from orders or judgments of a judge of the superior court.

• Marginal note:Application to Minister

  (7) The Minister shall, on application made to the Minister by any person who has obtained an order under subsection (5),

  • (a) direct that the aircraft to which the interest of the applicant relates be returned to the applicant; or

  • (b) direct that an amount equal to the value of the interest of the applicant, as declared in the order, be paid to the applicant.

• Marginal note:Disposal of forfeited aircraft

  (8) Where no application is made under this section for an order in relation to an interest in a forfeited aircraft or an application is made and the judge or, on appeal, the court refuses to make an order referred to in subsection (5), the aircraft shall be disposed of in such manner as the Minister may direct.

Marginal note:Prohibition — unruly or dangerous behaviour

• 7.41 (1) No person shall engage in any behaviour that endangers the safety or security of an aircraft in flight or of persons on board an aircraft in flight by intentionally

  • (a) interfering with the performance of the duties of any crew member;

  • (b) lessening the ability of any crew member to perform that crew member’s duties; or

  • (c) interfering with any person who is following the instructions of a crew member.

• Marginal note:Punishment

  (2) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable

  • (a) on conviction on indictment, to a fine of not more than $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years, or to both; and

  • (b) on summary conviction, to a fine of not more than $25,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than eighteen months, or to both.

• Marginal note:Deeming — “in flight”

  (3) For the purpose of subsection (1), an aircraft is deemed to be in flight from the time when all external doors are closed following embarkation until the time at which any external door is opened for the purpose of disembarkation.

• Marginal note:Application

  (4) This section applies despite subsections 7.3(4) and (7).