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INCOME AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS ACT - PDF
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1 Province of Alberta Statutes of Alberta, Current as of December 9, 2016 Office Consolidation Published by Alberta Queen s Printer Alberta Queen s Printer Suite 700, Park Plaza Avenue Edmonton, AB T5K 2P7 Phone: Fax: Shop on-line at
2 Copyright and Permission Statement Alberta Queen's Printer holds copyright on behalf of the Government of Alberta in right of Her Majesty the Queen for all Government of Alberta legislation. Alberta Queen's Printer permits any person to reproduce Alberta s statutes and regulations without seeking permission and without charge, provided due diligence is exercised to ensure the accuracy of the materials produced, and Crown copyright is acknowledged in the following format: Alberta Queen's Printer, 20.* *The year of first publication of the legal materials is to be completed. Note All persons making use of this consolidation are reminded that it has no legislative sanction, that amendments have been embodied for convenience of reference only. The official Statutes and Regulations should be consulted for all purposes of interpreting and applying the law. Regulations The following is a list of the regulations made under the Income and Employment Supports Act that are filed as Alberta Regulations under the Regulations Act Alta. Reg. Amendments Income and Employment Supports Act Child and Adult Support Services... 61/ /2006, 35/2007, 128/2007, 68/2008, 34/2010, 31/2012, 230/2017 Disability-related Employment Supports and Services / /2017 Income Support, Training and Health Benefits / /2012, 67/2012, 170/2012, 143/2013, 191/2014, 99/2015, 88/2016, 213/2016, 174/2017, 230/2017 Recovery... 43/ /2017 Support Agreement / /2014 Temporary Employment and Job Creation Programs... 33/ /2017 Training Provider / /2017
3 Table of Contents Part 1 Interpretation, Purpose and Administration 1 Definitions 2 Purpose 3 Director 4 Delegation of authority Part 2 Income Support and Health and Training Benefits Division 1 Income Support and Benefits 5 Income support and benefits provided 6 Eligibility Division 2 Health Benefits 7 Health benefits provided 8 Eligibility for health benefits Division 3 Training Benefits 9 Training benefits provided 10 Eligibility for part-time learners Division 4 Income Support and Training Benefits Under Intergovernmental Agreements 11 Intergovernmental agreements 1
4 Division 5 Employment and Training Benefits for Persons with Disabilities 12 Employment and training benefits Division 6 General Provisions 13 Application for assistance 14 Information and verification 15 Discontinuation, suspension or variation 16 Agreement to reimburse and assignment 17 Financial administrator and third parties 18 Regulations Part 3 Training Programs and Providers 19 Definition 20 Agreements with training providers 21 Obligations of training providers 22 Remedial action 23 Audits 24 Administrative penalties 25 Debt due 26 Regulations Part 4 Temporary Employment and Job Creation Programs 27 Temporary employment and job creation programs Part 5 Child and Adult Support Services 28 Definitions 29 Director s right to apply for and enforce support 30 Support services at request of applicant 31 Application of payments to Government 32 Liability 33 Regulations Part 6 Recovery and Offences 34 Definition 35 Repayment 2
5 36.1 Debt due 37 Sponsors 38 Collection of payments 39 Registration in land titles office 40 Caveat to secure payments 41 Offences 42 Regulations Part 7 Appeals 43 Decisions that may be appealed 44 Exceptions 45 Appeal to appeal panel 46 Order of appeal panel 47 Establishment of appeal panels 48 Regulations 48.1 Regulations under the Alberta Public Agencies Governance Act prevail Part 8 Confidentiality of Information and General Regulations 49 Personal information 50 Regulations Part 9 Transitional Provisions, Consequential Amendments, Repeals and Coming into Force 51 Transitional Consequential amendments 60 Repeals 61 Coming into force HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, enacts as follows: Definitions 1 In this Act, Part 1 Interpretation, Purpose and Administration 3
6 Section 1 (a) applicant means an applicant for assistance under Part 2; (b) assistance under Part 2 means (i) income support and benefits provided under Part 2, Division 1, (ii) health benefits provided under Part 2, Division 2, (iii) training benefits provided under Part 2, Division 3, (iv) income support and training benefits under intergovernmental agreements provided under Part 2, Division 4, and (v) employment and training benefits for persons with disabilities provided under Part 2, Division 5; (c) cohabiting partner means a cohabiting partner as defined in the regulations; (d) dependent child means a dependent child as defined in the regulations; (e) Director means a person appointed under section 3; (f) household unit means (i) a person and that person s cohabiting partner or dependent children or both, and (ii) if a person is single and without a cohabiting partner and dependent children, that person; (g) financial administrator means a financial administrator appointed under section 17; (h) Minister means the Minister determined under section 16 of the Government Organization Act as the Minister responsible for this Act; (i) recipient means the person to whom or on whose behalf assistance under Part 2 is provided; (j) third party means a third party referred to in section 17(1)(b); (k) training provider means a person with whom the Director has entered into an agreement or arrangement under section 20. 4
7 Section 2 Purpose 2 The purpose of this Act is to provide programs for persons in need for such of their requirements for food, shelter, personal items and medical and other benefits as are essential to their health and well-being and, in particular, to provide training and other measures to facilitate their movement toward independence and self-sufficiency. Director 3(1) In accordance with the Public Service Act, there may be appointed one or more Directors who shall administer this Act under the direction of the Minister. (2) Where more than one Director is appointed, the Minister shall determine the responsibilities of each Director with respect to the administration of this Act. Delegation of authority 4 A Director may authorize any employee of the Government, any training provider or an Indian or Metis organization or an employee of such an organization to exercise any powers or perform any duties and functions conferred on the Director by this Act or the regulations. Part 2 Income Support and Health and Training Benefits Division 1 Income Support and Benefits Income support and benefits provided 5(1) A Director may, subject to the regulations, provide to a household unit eligible under section 6 for income support and benefits any one or more of the following income support payments and benefits: (a) core income support payments determined in accordance with the regulations; (b) supplementary income support payments determined in accordance with the regulations; (c) any other income support payments or benefits determined in accordance with the regulations. 5
8 Section 6 (2) The amount or value of income support and benefits that may be provided under this Division to or for the use of an eligible household unit is the difference between (a) the budgetary requirements of the household unit determined in accordance with the regulations, and (b) the financial resources available to the household unit determined in accordance with the regulations. Eligibility 6(1) A household unit is eligible for income support and benefits if (a) the household unit is designated in accordance with the regulations as being included in one of the following categories: (i) expected to work or working, as defined in the regulations; (ii) not expected to work, as defined in the regulations; (iii) full-time learner; (iv) any other category specified in the regulations, and (b) the conditions set out in subsection (2), (3) or (4), as the case may be, are met. (2) The conditions that must be met by a household unit included in a category referred to in subsection (1)(a)(i) or (ii) are as follows: (a) the members of the household unit are in Alberta; (b) one of the members of the household unit is at least 18 years of age; (c) the household unit is financially eligible in accordance with the regulations; (d) if applicable, a member of the household unit who is entitled to receive or apply for support referred to in Part 5 is willing to comply with any requirements under Part 5; (e) the household unit is not entitled to receive income support and benefits similar to the income support and benefits 6
9 Section 6 provided under this Division from any other income support regime specified in the regulations; (f) information and verification of information required to determine eligibility are provided; (g) any other conditions required by the regulations. (3) The conditions that must be met by a household unit included in the category referred to in subsection (1)(a)(iii) are as follows: (a) the members of the household unit are residents of Alberta determined in accordance with the regulations; (b) the household unit is financially eligible in accordance with the regulations; (c) a member of the household unit, other than a dependent child, (i) meets the age and other requirements provided in the regulations, and (ii) is suitable to participate full-time in a training program for an achievable employment goal and has been accepted in an approved training program referred to in Part 3; (d) if applicable, a member of the household unit who is entitled to receive or apply for support referred to in Part 5 is willing to comply with any requirements under Part 5; (e) information and verification of information required to determine eligibility are provided; (f) the household unit is not entitled to receive income support and benefits similar to the income support and benefits provided under this Division from any other income support regime specified in the regulations; (g) any other conditions required by the regulations. (4) The conditions that must be met by a household unit included in a category referred to in subsection (1)(a)(iv) are those required by the regulations. ci-0.5 s6;2006 c20 s2 7
10 Section 7 Division 2 Health Benefits Health benefits provided 7 The Director may, subject to the regulations, provide health benefits to children and adults eligible under section 8. Eligibility for health benefits 8(1) A child or adult is eligible to receive health benefits under this Division if the conditions required under subsection (2) are met. (2) The conditions required for the purposes of subsection (1) are as follows: (a) the residency requirements provided in the regulations are met; (b) the person is financially eligible in accordance with the regulations; (c) information and verification of information required to determine eligibility are provided; (d) the person is not entitled to receive health benefits similar to the health benefits provided under this Division from any other source specified in the regulations; (e) any other conditions required by the regulations. Division 3 Training Benefits Training benefits provided 9 A Director may, subject to the regulations, provide to a person eligible under section 6(3) or 10 any one or more of the following: (a) tuition and other prescribed fees; (b) cost of books and supplies; (c) cost of child care and transportation; (d) any other training benefits specified in the regulations. Eligibility for part-time learners 10 A member of a household unit, other than a dependent child, is eligible for part-time training benefits under this Division if 8
11 Section 11 (a) the household unit is receiving income support and benefits under Division 1 or is otherwise financially eligible in accordance with the regulations, (b) the person (i) is at least 18 years of age and meets the other requirements determined under the regulations, and (ii) is suitable to participate part-time in a training program for an achievable employment goal, and has been accepted in an approved training program referred to in Part 3, and (c) the household unit and the person meet any other conditions required by the regulations. ci-0.5 s10;2006 c20 s3 Division 4 Income Support and Training Benefits Under Intergovernmental Agreements Intergovernmental agreements 11(1) In this Division, intergovernmental agreement means an agreement between the Minister and the Government of Canada to provide income support and training benefits. (2) The Director may, subject to the regulations and an intergovernmental agreement, provide income support and training benefits to persons eligible in accordance with the regulations and the intergovernmental agreement. Division 5 Employment and Training Benefits for Persons with Disabilities Employment and training benefits 12 The Director may, subject to the regulations, provide employment and training benefits (a) to persons with disabilities who are eligible in accordance with the regulations, or (b) to an employer, training provider or other person to be used for the benefit of a person referred to in clause (a). ci-0.5 s12;2004 c10 s2 9
12 Section 13 Division 6 General Provisions Application for assistance 13 An application for assistance under Part 2 must be made in the manner determined by the Director. Information and verification 14(1) For the purpose of determining or auditing eligibility or continuing eligibility for assistance under Part 2, or compliance with any terms or conditions of receiving assistance under Part 2, the Director may do one or more of the following: (a) direct an applicant or recipient to provide the Director with information within the time and in the manner specified by the Director; (b) seek verification of any information provided to the Director by an applicant or recipient; (c) direct an applicant or recipient to provide verification of any information provided to the Director by the applicant or recipient. (2) A recipient must notify the Director, in the manner determined by the Director, of any changes in the recipient s circumstances or the circumstances of any other member of the recipient s household unit that would have the effect of reducing the assistance under Part 2 being provided or would affect eligibility to receive assistance under Part 2. Discontinuation, suspension or variation 15(1) The Director may, subject to the regulations, refuse to provide assistance under Part 2 or discontinue, suspend or reduce the assistance provided when, in the opinion of the Director, an applicant or recipient, where applicable, (a) refuses to seek or to accept reasonable employment for reasonable wages, (b) terminates employment that the applicant or recipient might reasonably have continued to hold, (c) refuses to make reasonable efforts (i) to obtain compensation or collect income that the applicant, recipient or a member of his or her household unit is entitled to or eligible for, or 10
13 Section 16 (ii) to realize on an asset or other financial resource that the applicant, recipient or a member of his or her household unit owns or may be entitled to, (d) refuses or neglects to avail himself or herself or a member of his or her household unit of advantages the applicant or recipient or member of the household unit may receive or be entitled to under any other law, (e) refuses or neglects to take advantage of appropriate training or rehabilitative measures, (f) fails to maintain the eligibility requirements for the assistance provided, (g) fails to comply with any term or condition of the assistance provided, (h) fails to comply with a direction under section 14(1)(a) or (c) or with section 14(2), (i) fails to comply with a requirement under Part 5, or (j) refuses to provide complete information required to determine the applicant s or recipient s eligibility for assistance or provides false information. (2) The Director may refuse to provide benefits to a person in the category referred to in section 6(1)(a)(iii) or to a person eligible under section 9 if that person had previously received benefits under either of those sections but, (a) in providing information that was required to determine the person s eligibility for assistance under those sections, provided incomplete or false information, or (b) used the benefits for a purpose other than that for which they had been provided. (3) If there is a change in a recipient s circumstances or the circumstances of another member of the recipient s household unit, the Director may reduce, increase, suspend or discontinue any assistance under Part 2 being provided to the recipient or other member of the recipient s household unit. Agreement to reimburse and assignment 16(1) Any person who is receiving or has received assistance under Part 2 may voluntarily repay or agree to repay any assistance provided. 11
14 Section 17 (2) The Director may, as a condition of eligibility for assistance under Part 2, require an applicant, a recipient or a member of a household unit to reimburse the Government in prescribed circumstances for the assistance provided. (3) An agreement under subsection (1) or a requirement under subsection (2) may include an assignment, as prescribed. (4) An amount agreed to be repaid under subsection (1) or required to be repaid under subsection (2) is a debt due to the Government. ci-0.5 s16;2007 c20 s2 Financial administrator and third parties 17(1) When a recipient is unable to manage his or her own financial affairs, the Director, with the recipient s consent, may (a) appoint a financial administrator to manage the assistance under Part 2 provided to the recipient, or (b) make payments of part or all of the assistance under Part 2 directly to third parties if an amount is payable by the recipient to the third parties for costs relating to the provision of goods or services. (2) Subject to the regulations, if the Director considers that a recipient is unable to manage his or her own financial affairs and no consent has been obtained under subsection (1), the Director may apply to an appeal panel under Part 7 for a determination as to whether the recipient is capable of managing his or her own financial affairs and, if necessary, for (a) the appointment of a financial administrator to manage the assistance under Part 2 provided to or for the household unit, or (b) approval to make payments of part or all of the assistance under Part 2 directly to third parties if an amount is payable by the recipient to the third parties for costs relating to the provision of goods or services. (3) A financial administrator appointed under subsection (1) or (2) shall, when required by the Director, make returns showing the amount of assistance under Part 2 received, the amount that has been expended for the benefit of the recipient and the balance remaining with the financial administrator and shall, if necessary, remit any balance to the Director. (4) The Director may revoke the appointment of the financial administrator 12
15 Section 18 (a) where, in the opinion of the Director, the financial administrator is not acting in the best interests of the recipient, (b) where the financial administrator fails to provide information that is required to be provided on behalf of the recipient or where information provided causes a repayment to be required under section 35, or (c) for any other reason referred to in the regulations. (5) A financial administrator appointed under this section on behalf of a recipient has all the rights and obligations of the recipient under this Act, except Part 5. (6) When a financial administrator appointed under subsection (1) or (2) is an officer or employee of an institution in which a recipient is maintained, the financial administrator shall pay to the institution that proportion of any assistance under Part 2 that is considered by the Director to be a reasonable sum for the maintenance of the person, but the Director shall require the financial administrator to make available to the recipient the amount that has been provided for the recipient s personal use. (7) Notwithstanding anything in this section, when a trustee is appointed for a person under the Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act, the trustee so appointed is the financial administrator for the purposes of this Act. ci-0.5 s17;2007 c20 s3;2008 ca-4.2 s135 Regulations 18 The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations (a) respecting core income support payments and supplementary income support payments; (b) respecting other income support payments or benefits for the purposes of section 5(1)(c); (c) respecting the determination of the budgetary requirements of a household unit for the purposes of section 5(2)(a); (d) respecting the determination of the financial resources available to a household unit for the purposes of section 5(2)(b); (e) respecting the designation of a household unit as being included in a category referred to in section 6(1)(a); 13
16 Section 18 (f) respecting other categories for the purposes of section 6(1)(a)(iv); (g) respecting the age and other requirements for the purpose of sections 6(3)(c)(i) or 10(b)(i); (h) respecting the determination of financial eligibility for the purposes of this Part; (i) respecting the conditions of eligibility for assistance under Part 2; (j) respecting the determination of residency in Alberta and the residency requirements for the purposes of section 8(2)(a); (k) respecting income support regimes for the purposes of sections 6(2)(e) and (3)(g) and other sources for the purpose of section 8(2)(d); (l) respecting health benefits that may be provided for the purposes of Division 2; (m) respecting training benefits for the purpose of section 9(d); (n) respecting suitability for participation in a training program under section 6(3)(c)(ii) or 10(b)(ii); (o) respecting the income support and training benefits that may be provided under Division 4; (p) respecting the employment and training benefits that may be provided under Division 5; (q) respecting agreements or arrangements with persons or organizations to provide employment and training benefits to persons eligible under Division 5; (r) respecting records that a person or organization referred to in clause (q) is required to maintain; (s) respecting the requirements that a person or organization referred to in clause (q) is required to comply with; (t) respecting the refusal, discontinuation, suspension or reduction of assistance under Part 2; (u) respecting the determination of the amount of assistance under Part 2 to be provided to a recipient and the time and manner of providing it; 14
17 Section 19 (v) respecting terms and conditions associated with being provided with assistance under Part 2; (w) respecting the items, services and payments that may be included as benefits for the purposes of Division 1; (x) respecting emergency assistance and determining who may be eligible for emergency assistance; (y) respecting classes of person who are not eligible for assistance under Part 2; (z) respecting applications for assistance under Part 2 and the information to be included in an application; (aa) respecting the consequences of failing to satisfy a condition of eligibility, including fixing periods of ineligibility; (bb) respecting reinstating assistance under Part 2 or returning it to its former level and the procedures that apply; (cc) respecting applications to an appeal panel under section 17(2); (dd) respecting other reasons for the revocation of the appointment of a financial administrator. Part 3 Training Programs and Providers Definition 19 In this Part, learner means a person receiving training benefits under Part 2, Division 3, 4 or 5. Agreements with training providers 20 The Director may, subject to the regulations, approve training programs and enter into agreements and other arrangements with persons to provide them. Obligations of training providers 21 A training provider must (a) maintain certification and licensing required by the regulations; (b) maintain records in accordance with the regulations; 15
18 Section 22 (c) provide records to the Director when requested; (d) permit the inspection and copying of records; (e) notify the Director where a learner in an approved training program fails to comply with the terms and conditions of receiving the training benefits; (f) refund tuition and other prescribed fees in respect of learners who do not attend or have withdrawn, in accordance with the regulations, from an approved training program; (g) comply with any other requirement provided for in the regulations. Remedial action 22 Where a training provider fails to comply with this Act or the regulations, with the terms or conditions of an approval of a training program the training provider is authorized to provide or with any term or condition of an agreement or arrangement entered into under section 20, the Director (a) shall provide written notice to the training provider of the failure to comply and, if applicable, specify the period in which the failure to comply is to be remedied; (b) may, when the failure to comply is regarding non-payment of refunds for tuition and other prescribed fees, withhold subsequent payments for tuition and other prescribed fees; (c) may restrict the number of learners that a training provider may accept; (d) may suspend or cancel the approval of training programs and any funding associated with them; (e) may terminate or suspend any agreement or arrangement between the Director and the training provider relating to the provision of approved training programs; (f) may appoint an auditor to audit the books and accounts of the training provider, at the training provider s expense, to determine the costs associated with the failure to comply; (g) may require the training provider to repay the costs associated with the failure to comply; 16
19 Section 23 (h) may impose an administrative penalty in accordance with section 24 on the training provider for the failure to comply; (i) may demand a refund or repayment of amounts paid to a training provider; (j) may take such other measures as may be required to collect any amounts owing to the Government as a result of the failure to comply. Audits 23(1) Where the Director appoints an auditor under section 22(f), the auditor must submit the auditor s report to the Director and to the training provider. (2) An auditor appointed by the Director is, at all reasonable times and for any purpose related to an audit, entitled to access (a) the books and records of the training provider, and (b) the data processing equipment used by the training provider. (3) The training provider must give the auditor any information, reports or explanations the auditor considers necessary. (4) An auditor who receives information from a person whose right to disclose that information is restricted by law holds that information under the same restrictions respecting disclosure that govern the person from whom the information was received. Administrative penalties 24(1) Where the Director is of the opinion that a training provider has failed to comply (a) with any prescribed provision of this Act or the regulations, (b) with a term or condition of an approval of a training program the training provider is authorized to provide, or (c) with a term or condition of an agreement or arrangement entered into under section 20, the Director may give a notice of administrative penalty to the training provider requiring that training provider to pay to the Government an administrative penalty, by a date specified in the notice, in the amount set out in the notice, for each day or part of a day the failure to comply occurs or continues. 17
20 Section 25 (2) A training provider who pays an administrative penalty by the date specified in the notice in respect of a failure to comply shall not be charged with an offence under this Act in respect of that failure to comply. (3) A notice of administrative penalty shall not be issued after 3 years from the later of (a) the date on which the failure to comply to which the notice relates occurred, and (b) the date on which evidence of the failure to comply first came to the attention of the Director (4) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations (a) prescribing the form and contents of notices of administrative penalties for the purpose of this section; (b) prescribing contraventions of provisions of this Act or the regulations in respect of which an administrative penalty may be imposed; (c) prescribing the amount, or the manner of determining the amount, of the administrative penalty that may be imposed, not to exceed $5000 for each day or part of a day the failure to comply with the prescribed provisions, with any term or condition of an approval of a training program or with any term or condition of an agreement or arrangement entered into under section 20 occurs or continues; (d) respecting any other matter necessary for the administration of the system of administrative penalties. ci-0.5 s24;2004 c10 s3 Debt due 25(1) Any amount owing to the Government under section 22(f), (g) or (i) by a training provider and an administrative penalty imposed on a training provider under section 24 are debts due to the Government. (2) Where an amount referred to in subsection (1) is required to be paid by a training provider, the Director shall provide a notice to the training provider, in the form and manner provided by the regulations, indicating the amount owing and the right to appeal under regulations made under subsection (3). (3) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations 18
21 Section 26 (a) respecting an appeal relating to an amount owing under subsection (1); (b) respecting the form and contents of a notice under subsection (2) and the manner in which the notice is to be provided. Regulations 26 The Minister may make regulations (a) respecting the approval of training programs; (b) respecting standards a training provider is to meet in carrying out its functions and the procedures and practices to be followed by the training provider; (c) respecting the funding of approved training programs and the terms and conditions of the funding; (d) respecting the certification and licensing required by a training provider; (e) respecting records that a training provider is required to maintain; (f) respecting the attendance or withdrawal from an approved training program by a learner; (g) respecting other requirements a training provider is required to comply with; (h) respecting the maximum number of learners that may participate in an approved training program; (i) respecting the security that is required to be provided by a training provider and the terms and conditions for forfeiture of the security. Part 4 Temporary Employment and Job Creation Programs Temporary employment and job creation programs 27(1) In this section, (a) employer means an employer as prescribed; 19
22 Section 28 (b) job training program means a job training program established or operated by the Minister and prescribed in the regulations; (c) temporary job creation program means a job creation program established or operated by the Minister and prescribed in the regulations. (2) Notwithstanding the Labour Relations Code and the Public Service Employee Relations Act, the terms and conditions of employment of a person who is employed by an employer under a temporary job creation program or a job training program shall not be contained in a collective agreement as defined in either of those Acts. (3) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations (a) prescribing employers or classes of employers for the purpose of this section; (b) prescribing temporary job creation programs or job training programs or portions of those programs for the purpose of this section. Definitions 28 In this Part, Part 5 Child and Adult Support Services (a) assistance means (i) assistance under Part 2, Divisions 1 to 3, (ii) a benefit under the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped Act, or (iii) assistance or a benefit provided under this Act or any other enactment as specified in the regulations; (b) support means support, maintenance or alimony payable for a person or for the dependent child of the person, as the case may be; (c) support agreement means a written agreement or part of an agreement that requires the payment of support; (d) support order means 20
23 Section 29 (i) a court order that has a provision that requires the payment of support, or (ii) a support agreement that has been filed or may be filed under the Maintenance Enforcement Act. ci-0.5 s28;2007 c20 s4 Director s right to apply for and enforce support 29(1) Where a person has a right to apply for or receive support under an Act, order or agreement for that person or that person s dependent child, and (a) the person is in receipt of assistance, or (b) the person has qualified for assistance but is not yet in receipt of the assistance, the Director has the authority set out in subsections (2) and (3). (2) The Director may assist a person referred to in subsection (1) (a) in entering into a support agreement in the prescribed form with the person who is obligated to pay support and arrears, if any, and (b) in obtaining a consent order for support and arrears, if any. (3) For the purposes of subsection (1), the Director has all the rights of a person referred to in subsection (1) and may take any steps to obtain, enforce or vary a support order or support agreement, including (a) entering into a support agreement in the prescribed form with the person who is obligated to pay the support and arrears, if any; (b) agreeing to a consent order for support and arrears, if any; (c) bringing an application for a determination of parentage; (d) bringing an application for support and arrears, if any; (e) bringing or defending an application for a variation of a support order or support agreement or to reduce arrears; (f) filing a support order or support agreement under the Maintenance Enforcement Act or taking any other action to enforce a support order or support agreement; 21
24 Section 29 (g) withdrawing a support order or support agreement from filing under section 9 of the Maintenance Enforcement Act; (h) intervening in an application already being brought relating to the obtaining, enforcement or variation of a support order or support agreement; (i) taking any steps necessary to bring or defend an application relating to the obtaining, enforcement or variation of a support order or support agreement. (4) For the purposes of subsection (3), the Director may act in his or her name or in the name of the person referred to in subsection (1). (5) When the Director exercises authority under subsection (3), the Director must, subject to the regulations, notify the person who is or may be entitled to support. (6) While the Director is exercising authority under subsection (3), the person who is entitled to the support or to apply for or receive support under an Act, order or agreement (a) shall not, except as provided in the regulations, exercise any of the rights referred to in subsection (3), (b) must, when required, (i) provide all necessary information, (ii) co-operate in any court proceedings, and (iii) comply with any requests of the Director, and (c) shall not agree with the person who is obligated to pay support and arrears, if any, to cancel or reduce arrears under a support order or support agreement with respect to amounts owing to the Government. (7) If a person enters into an agreement referred to in subsection (6)(c), the agreement is void. (8) Where a person ceases to receive assistance and the Director has commenced to act under subsection (3), the Director may continue to act unless, subject to subsection (9), the person requests otherwise. 22
25 Section 30 (9) Where a person ceases to receive assistance but the assistance provided during the period of entitlement to the support has not been recovered by the Government, the Director may act or continue to act under subsection (3) to recover money owing to the Government. Support services at request of applicant 30(1) Where a person is not receiving assistance but meets the eligibility requirements provided for in the regulations, the Director may, subject to the regulations, (a) assist the person in entering into a support agreement in the prescribed form with the person who is obligated to pay support and arrears, if any, (b) assist the person in obtaining a consent order for support and arrears, if any, (c) bring an application for a determination of parentage in the Director s name or in the name of the person, (d) bring an application for support to which the person is entitled in the Director s name or in the name of the person, and (e) take any steps necessary to commence an application for parentage or support. (2) If legal counsel for the Government is acting under subsection (1) on behalf of a person, the legal counsel is counsel solely for the Government and there is no solicitor-client relationship between that counsel and that person. Application of payments to Government 31 The Government is entitled to receive any support payments payable under a support agreement or support order made before or after the coming into force of this section for any period during which the recipient is or was in receipt of any assistance sufficient to enable the Government to recover the full amount or value of the assistance provided. Liability 32 No action or other proceeding in damages shall be instituted against the Government, an officer or employee of the Government or anyone acting under the authority of an officer or employee of the Government for any act done in good faith in the execution or 23
26 Section 33 intended execution of a power or duty under this Part or for any alleged neglect or default in the execution in good faith of any power or duty under this Part. Regulations 33(1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations (a) respecting the awarding of costs against the Crown in a proceeding under this Part; (b) specifying assistance or benefits for the purpose of section 28(a)(iii); (c) respecting circumstances under which a person may exercise his or her rights under section 29(6)(a); (d) respecting the eligibility of a person for the purpose of section 30(1) and the circumstances under which the Director can act under section 30(1); (e) respecting steps that may be taken for the purposes of sections 29(3)(i) and 30(1)(e). (2) The Minister may make regulations prescribing the form and contents of a support agreement for the purposes of sections 29(2)(a) and (3)(a) and 30(1)(a). ci-0.5 s33;2006 c20 s4;2007 c20 s5 Part 6 Recovery and Offences Definition 34 In this Part, assistance means (a) assistance under Part 2, or (b) assistance or a benefit provided under any other enactment as specified in the regulations. ci-0.5 s34;2006 ca-45.1 s14;2007 c20 s6 Repayment 35(1) A recipient must repay the amount or value of assistance received if, in the Director s opinion, (a) assistance that is specified in the regulations has been used for a purpose other than that for which it was provided, or (b) the recipient received assistance to which the recipient was not entitled. 24
27 Section 36.1 (1.1) A financial administrator or third party may be required by the Director to repay the amount or value of assistance received on behalf of a recipient if, in the Director s opinion, (a) the recipient received assistance to which the recipient was not entitled due to the non-disclosure of a material fact or provision of false information by the financial administrator or third party, or (b) assistance administered by the financial administrator or third party has been used for a purpose other than that for which it was provided. (2), (3) Repealed 2007 c20 s7. (4) Where an amount is repayable under subsection (1) in respect of a household unit and the recipient and the recipient s cohabiting partner at the time the debt was incurred are no longer in the same household unit, the Director shall, for the purposes of enforcing the payment of the debt, attribute the amount of the debt between the recipient and the recipient s former cohabiting partner as the Director considers appropriate. (5) Where a repayment is required from a person under this section, the Director shall provide a notice to the person, in the form and manner provided by the regulations, indicating the amount owing and the right to appeal under section 43. ci-0.5 s35;2007 c20 s7 36 Repealed 2007 c20 s8. Debt due 36.1 An amount repayable under section 35 is a debt due to the Government when (a) the appeal period under section 45(1) has expired, or (b) an appeal under section 45(1) has been determined c20 s9 Sponsors 37(1) Where an amount is payable to the Government under subsection 145(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada), the amount payable is a debt due to the Government. (2) Where an amount is payable under subsection (1), the Director shall provide a notice to the person, in the form and manner 25
28 Section 38 provided by the regulations, indicating the amount owing and the right to appeal under the regulations made under section 42(1). Collection of payments 38(1) In this section, former Act means (a) the Social Development Act, and (b) the Widows Pension Act after it is repealed under section 60(4). (2) The Director shall take any action the Director considers necessary to collect any debt due to the Government under this Act, a former Act or the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped Act, including any of the following: (a) entering into an agreement with the debtor; (b) bringing an action in debt; (c) deducting the amount owing from further assistance for which the person is eligible under this Act, or under any other enactment or program under the Minister s responsibility to which the person is otherwise entitled, in an amount determined in accordance with the regulations, until the amount owing has been paid; (d) filing with the clerk of the Court of Queen s Bench at any judicial centre a certificate of the Minister certifying the amount owing. (3) A certificate filed under subsection (2)(d) becomes an order of the Court of Queen s Bench and may be enforced as a judgment of that court. (4) Repealed 2007 c20 s10. (5) After the filing of a certificate pursuant to subsection (2)(d) the person named in the certificate shall be served with a notice setting out (a) the amount owing, (b) the judicial centre at which the certificate was filed, and (c) the date on which the certificate was filed. (6) A notice required by subsection (5) must be served in the manner determined by the regulations. 26
29 Section ci-0.5 s38;2006 ca-45.1 s14;2007 c20 s10; 2009 c53 s85 Registration in land titles office 39(1) In this section, order means a judgment in debt for an amount owing under this Part. (2) An order, certificate or agreement referred to in section 38(2) may be registered in any land titles office and the registration, so long as the order, certificate or agreement remains in force, (a) binds all legal and equitable interests of the debtor in any land registered in the debtor s name at the time of or after registration of the order, certificate or agreement, and (b) operates on those interests in the same manner and with the same effect as registration of a charge by the debtor on the land of the debtor. (3) The Registrar of Land Titles shall cancel the registration of an order, certificate or agreement registered under subsection (2) on the presentation to the Registrar of a notice issued by the Director stating (a) that the person is not required to make further payment under the order, certificate or agreement, (b) in the case of an order or certificate, that the order or certificate has terminated or has been revoked by an order of the Court of Queen s Bench, or (c) in the case of an agreement, that the agreement has terminated or has been discharged. (4) If the Director, on application to the Director, refuses to issue a notice under subsection (3), the applicant may apply to the Court of Queen s Bench for an order directing the Registrar of Land Titles to cancel the registration of the order, certificate or agreement. (5) An order by the Court of Queen s Bench under subsection (4) may be made only where the court is of the opinion that grounds exist on which the Director could have issued a notice under subsection (3). ci-0.5 s39;2009 c53 s85 Caveat to secure payments 40(1) When assistance is provided under Part 2, Division 1 to meet (a) the payments on a land mortgage,
30 Section 41 (b) the payments under an agreement for sale of land, or (c) the costs of repairs to buildings or other improvements to land, the Director may cause a caveat in a form prescribed by the Director to be registered in the land titles office against the certificate of title for the land. (2) On the registration of the caveat, the Director has a charge on the land equal to (a) the amount by which the principal sum of the mortgage or agreement for sale has been reduced since payments referred to in subsection (1) were commenced, or (b) the costs of repairs made to buildings or other improvements to the land referred to in subsection (1). (3) On receiving the caveat, the Registrar of Land Titles shall send a notice of the caveat to (a) the mortgagor, when payments are made for a mortgage, (b) the purchaser, when payments are made under an agreement for sale, if the purchaser s address can be ascertained from the certificate of title, and (c) the person who has received assistance, when payment of the costs of repairs to buildings or other improvements to the land has been made. (4) Notwithstanding section 138 of the Land Titles Act, a caveat registered pursuant to this section does not lapse and shall not be cancelled or withdrawn except on the Director s request to withdraw the caveat. (5) No fees are payable to the Registrar for the registration or withdrawal of a caveat under this section. (6) The Director may waive the rights given by this section, in whole or in part, for the purpose of any proceedings or for any other reason the Director thinks is proper. Offences 41(1) A person who under this Act is required to provide information who (a) knowingly gives false information, 28
31 Section 42 (b) knowingly conceals information, or (c) knowingly omits to provide or disclose information, is guilty of an offence and is liable to a fine of not more than $2000. (2) A person who, knowing he or she is not entitled to it, obtains or receives assistance to which he or she is not entitled under this Act and the regulations is guilty of an offence and is liable to a fine of not more than $2000. (3) In addition to imposing a fine under subsection (1) or (2), the judge may order the repayment of an amount equal to the value of any assistance received as a result of the commission of the offence. (4) A financial administrator or third party who benefits from assistance knowing that the recipient was not entitled to receive it is guilty of an offence and is liable to a fine of not more than $5000. (5) A financial administrator or third party who wilfully misuses assistance provided for a recipient is guilty of an offence and is liable to a fine of not more than $5000. (6) A prosecution for an offence under this Act may not be commenced more than 2 years after the later of (a) the date on which the offence was committed, and (b) the date on which evidence of the offence first came to the attention of the Director. ci-0.5 s41;2007 c20 s11 Regulations 42(1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations (a) respecting an appeal relating to an amount payable under section 37(1); (b) respecting the form and manner of providing notice for the purposes of sections 35(5) and 37(2); (c) respecting the manner of serving a notice under section 38(5). (2) The Minister may make regulations 29
32 Section 43 (a) specifying assistance or benefits for the purpose of section 34(b); (b) specifying the assistance for the purpose of section 35(1)(a); (c) respecting the amount that may be deducted for the purpose of section 38(2)(c). ci-0.5 s42;2007 c20 s12 Part 7 Appeals Decisions that may be appealed 43(1) Any decision of the Director (a) relating to eligibility or continuing eligibility for, or the amount or value of, assistance under Part 2, (b) relating to an amount repayable under section 35, or (c) relating to any other matter provided for in the regulations, other than a decision referred to in section 44, may be appealed to an appeal panel. (2) A decision of the Director that may not be appealed is final when it is made. ci-0.5 s43;2004 c10 s4;2007 c20 s13 Exceptions 44 No appeal lies to an appeal panel with respect to the following matters: (a) a decision with respect to assistance under Part 2, Division 1 that does not affect eligibility for or the amount or value of assistance; (b) a decision under Part 5; (c) a variation, refusal or cancellation of assistance under Part 2 caused by an amendment to this Act or the regulations; (d) any other matter exempted from appeal by the regulations. Appeal to appeal panel 45(1) A person directly affected may appeal a decision of the Director referred to in section 43(1) by filing a notice of appeal, which must include reasons for requesting the appeal, within 30 30
33 Section 46 days from when the person received notice of the decision and of the person s right to appeal. (2) The Minister may extend the time for appealing a decision, whether the request for extension is made before or after the time has expired, if the Minister is satisfied that there are apparent grounds for an appeal and that there are reasonable grounds for granting the extension. (3) For the purpose of subsection (1), a person is deemed to have received notice of the Director s decision and of the person s right to appeal, (a) if it was sent by registered mail or courier, on the day it was delivered to that person s last address known to the Director, (b) if it was sent by ordinary mail, on the 7th day after it was mailed to that person s last address known to the Director, or (c) if it was sent by fax or other electronic means, on the day it was transmitted to the person s last electronic address known to the Director, unless the person satisfies the appeal panel that the person did not receive the notice or that the person received the notice later than when it is deemed to have been received. ci-0.5 s45;2007 c20 s14 Order of appeal panel 46(1) The appeal panel shall not make a decision in an appeal under this Part that the Director would not have authority to make under the Act and regulations. (2) An appeal panel may confirm, reverse or vary the decision appealed from and must give reasons for its decision. (3) If an appeal is determined to be abandoned, the appeal panel shall confirm the decision appealed from. (4) Despite subsection (1) and subject to the regulations, in an appeal under section 43(1)(b) an appeal panel may waive repayment, in whole or in part, of an amount that it determines would otherwise be required to be repaid under section 35. (5) A decision of an appeal panel in respect of an appeal under section 43 or an application under section 17(2) is final. ci-0.5 s46;2007 c20 s15 31