Extradition Act ( S.C. 1999, c. 18)

An Act respecting extradition, to amend the Canada Evidence Act, the Criminal Code, the Immigration Act and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act and to amend and repeal other Acts in consequence

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

Short Title

Marginal note: Short title

1 This Act may be cited as the Extradition Act .

PART 1 Interpretation

Marginal note: Definitions

2 The definitions in this section apply in this Act.

means the Attorney General of Canada. ( procureur général )

• (a) in Ontario, the Ontario Court (General Division);
• (b) in Quebec, the Superior Court;
• (c) in New Brunswick, Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan, the Court of Queen’s Bench;
• (d) in Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Yukon and the Northwest Territories, the Supreme Court, and in Nunavut, the Nunavut Court of Justice; and
• (e) in Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, the Trial Division of the Supreme Court. ( tribunal )

• (a) in the Province of Prince Edward Island, the Appeal Division of the Supreme Court; and
• (b) in all other provinces, the Court of Appeal. ( cour d’appel )

means an agreement that is in force, to which Canada is a party and that contains a provision respecting the extradition of persons, other than a specific agreement. ( accord )

means a State or entity with which Canada is party to an extradition agreement, with which Canada has entered into a specific agreement or whose name appears in the schedule. ( partenaire )

means the International Criminal Court as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act . ( Cour pénale internationale )

means a judge of the court. ( juge )

has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Criminal Code . ( juge de paix )

means the Minister of Justice. ( ministre )

means an agreement referred to in section 10 that is in force. ( accord spécifique )

• (a) a State other than Canada;
• (b) a province, state or other political subdivision of a State other than Canada;
• (c) a colony, dependency, possession, protectorate, condominium, trust territory or any territory falling under the jurisdiction of a State other than Canada;
• (d) an international criminal court or tribunal; or
• (e) a territory. ( État ou entité )

• 1999, c. 18, s. 2
• 2000, c. 24, s. 47
• 2002, c. 7, s. 169

PART 2 Extradition from Canada

Extraditable Conduct

Marginal note: General principle

• 3 (1) A person may be extradited from Canada in accordance with this Act and a relevant extradition agreement on the request of an extradition partner for the purpose of prosecuting the person or imposing a sentence on — or enforcing a sentence imposed on — the person if
  • (a) subject to a relevant extradition agreement, the offence in respect of which the extradition is requested is punishable by the extradition partner, by imprisoning or otherwise depriving the person of their liberty for a maximum term of two years or more, or by a more severe punishment; and
  • (b) the conduct of the person, had it occurred in Canada, would have constituted an offence that is punishable in Canada,
    • (i) in the case of a request based on a specific agreement, by imprisonment for a maximum term of five years or more, or by a more severe punishment, and
    • (ii) in any other case, by imprisonment for a maximum term of two years or more, or by a more severe punishment, subject to a relevant extradition agreement.

    Marginal note: Further proceedings

    4 For greater certainty, the discharge of a person under this Act or an Act repealed by section 129 or 130 does not preclude further proceedings, whether or not they are based on the same conduct, with a view to extraditing the person under this Act unless the judge is of the opinion that those further proceedings would be an abuse of process.

    Marginal note: Jurisdiction

    5 A person may be extradited

    • (a) whether or not the conduct on which the extradition partner bases its request occurred in the territory over which it has jurisdiction; and
    • (b) whether or not Canada could exercise jurisdiction in similar circumstances.

    Marginal note: Retrospectivity

    6 Subject to a relevant extradition agreement, extradition may be granted under this Act whether the conduct or conviction in respect of which the extradition is requested occurred before or after this Act or the relevant extradition agreement or specific agreement came into force.

    Marginal note: No immunity

    6.1 Despite any other Act or law, no person who is the subject of a request for surrender by the International Criminal Court or by any international criminal tribunal that is established by resolution of the Security Council of the United Nations and whose name appears in the schedule, may claim immunity under common law or by statute from arrest or extradition under this Act.

    • 2000, c. 24, s. 48

    Functions of the Minister

    Marginal note: Functions of the Minister

    7 The Minister is responsible for the implementation of extradition agreements, the administration of this Act and dealing with requests for extradition made under them.

    Publication of Extradition Agreements

    Marginal note: Publication in Canada Gazette

    • 8 (1) Unless the extradition agreement has been published under subsection (2), an extradition agreement — or the provisions respecting extradition contained in a multilateral extradition agreement — must be published in the Canada Gazette no later than 60 days after it comes into force.
    • Marginal note: Publication in Canada Treaty Series (2) An extradition agreement — or the provisions respecting extradition contained in a multilateral extradition agreement — may be published in the Canada Treaty Series and, if so published, the publication must be no later than 60 days after it comes into force.
    • Marginal note: Judicial notice (3) Agreements and provisions published in the Canada Gazette or the Canada Treaty Series are to be judicially noticed.

    Designated States and Entities

    Marginal note: Designated extradition partners

    • 9 (1) The names of members of the Commonwealth or other States or entities that appear in the schedule are designated as extradition partners.
    • Marginal note: Amendments to the schedule (2) The Minister of Foreign Affairs, with the agreement of the Minister, may, by order, add to or delete from the schedule the names of members of the Commonwealth or other States or entities.

    Specific Agreements

    Marginal note: Specific agreements

    • 10 (1) The Minister of Foreign Affairs may, with the agreement of the Minister, enter into a specific agreement with a State or entity for the purpose of giving effect to a request for extradition in a particular case.
    • Marginal note: Inconsistency (2) For greater certainty, if there is an inconsistency between this Act and a specific agreement, this Act prevails to the extent of the inconsistency.
    • Marginal note: Evidence (3) A certificate issued by or under the authority of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to which is attached a copy of a specific agreement entered into by Canada and a State or entity is conclusive evidence of the agreement and its contents without proof of the signature or official character of the person appearing to have signed the certificate or agreement.

    Minister’s Power to Receive Requests

    Marginal note: Request to go to Minister

    • 11 (1) A request by an extradition partner for the provisional arrest or extradition of a person shall be made to the Minister.
    • Marginal note: Provisional arrest request to go to Minister (2) A request by an extradition partner for the provisional arrest of a person may also be made to the Minister through Interpol.

    Warrant for Provisional Arrest

    Marginal note: Minister’s approval of request for provisional arrest

    12 The Minister may, after receiving a request by an extradition partner for the provisional arrest of a person, authorize the Attorney General to apply for a provisional arrest warrant, if the Minister is satisfied that

    • (a) the offence in respect of which the provisional arrest is requested is punishable in accordance with paragraph 3(1)(a); and
    • (b) the extradition partner will make a request for the extradition of the person.

    Marginal note: Provisional arrest warrant

    • 13 (1) A judge may, on ex parte application of the Attorney General, issue a warrant for the provisional arrest of a person, if satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe that
      • (a) it is necessary in the public interest to arrest the person, including to prevent the person from escaping or committing an offence;
      • (b) the person is ordinarily resident in Canada, is in Canada or is on the way to Canada; and
      • (c) a warrant for the person’s arrest or an order of a similar nature has been issued or the person has been convicted.
      • (a) name or describe the person to be arrested;
      • (b) set out briefly the offence in respect of which the provisional arrest was requested; and
      • (c) order that the person be arrested without delay and brought before the judge who issued the warrant or before another judge in Canada.

      Marginal note: Discharge if no proceedings

      • 14 (1) A person who has been provisionally arrested, whether detained or released on judicial interim release, must be discharged
        • (a) when the Minister notifies the court that an authority to proceed will not be issued under section 15;
        • (b) if the provisional arrest was made pursuant to a request made under an extradition agreement that contains a period within which a request for extradition must be made and the supporting documents provided,
          • (i) when the period has expired and the extradition partner has not made the request or provided the documents, or
          • (ii) when the request for extradition has been made and the documents provided within the period but the Minister has not issued an authority to proceed before the expiry of 30 days after the expiry of that period; or
          • (i) when 60 days have expired after the provisional arrest and the extradition partner has not made the request or provided the documents, or
          • (ii) when the request for extradition has been made and the documents provided within 60 days but the Minister has not issued an authority to proceed before the expiry of 30 additional days.
          • (a) may extend a period referred to in subsection (1); or
          • (b) shall, in the case of a person arrested on the request of the International Criminal Court, extend a period referred to in subsection (1) for the period specified by the Attorney General, not to exceed 30 days.
          • 1999, c. 18, s. 14
          • 2000, c. 24, s. 49

          Authority to Proceed

          Marginal note: Minister’s power to issue

          • 15 (1) The Minister may, after receiving a request for extradition and being satisfied that the conditions set out in paragraph 3(1)(a) and subsection 3(3) are met in respect of one or more offences mentioned in the request, issue an authority to proceed that authorizes the Attorney General to seek, on behalf of the extradition partner, an order of a court for the committal of the person under section 29.
          • Marginal note: Competing requests (2) If requests from two or more extradition partners are received by the Minister for the extradition of a person, the Minister shall determine the order in which the requests will be authorized to proceed.
          • Marginal note: Contents of authority to proceed (3) The authority to proceed must contain
            • (a) the name or description of the person whose extradition is sought;
            • (b) the name of the extradition partner; and
            • (c) the name of the offence or offences under Canadian law that correspond to the alleged conduct of the person or the conduct in respect of which the person was convicted, as long as one of the offences would be punishable in accordance with paragraph 3(1)(b).

            Arrest or Summons Following Authority to Proceed

            Marginal note: Warrant of arrest or summons

            • 16 (1) The Attorney General may, after the Minister issues an authority to proceed, apply ex parte to a judge in the province in which the Attorney General believes the person is or to which the person is on their way, or was last known to be, for the issuance of a summons to the person or a warrant for the arrest of the person.
            • Marginal note: When provisionally arrested (2) If the person has been arrested pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant issued under section 13, the Attorney General need not apply for a summons or warrant under subsection (1).
            • Marginal note: Issuance of summons or warrant of arrest (3) The judge to whom an application is made shall issue a summons to the person, or a warrant for the arrest of the person, in accordance with subsection 507(4) of the Criminal Code , with any modifications that the circumstances require.
            • Marginal note: Execution throughout Canada (4) A warrant that is issued under this section may be executed, and a summons issued under this section may be served, anywhere in Canada without being endorsed.
            • Marginal note: Date of hearing — summons (5) A summons that is issued under this section must
              • (a) set a date for the appearance of the person before a judge that is not later than 15 days after its issuance; and
              • (b) require the person to appear at a time and place stated in it for the purposes of the Identification of Criminals Act .