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Canada — Quebec Act or statute

Canada — Quebec legislation

Act respecting public inquiry commissions

The Government may appoint one or more commissioners, by commission, to conduct an inquiry when it considers this expedient.

Source excerpt

administrative actioncopiesdocument productionevidencefeesgovernment indemnitygovernment inquiryinquiry costsinvestigationoath or affirmationreportingsummonswitness expenses
Jurisdiction
Canada — Quebec
Structure
21 provisions
Dates
Source version 10 Jun 2026
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01

Purpose and legislative effect

“The Government may appoint one or more commissioners, by commission, to conduct an inquiry when it considers this expedient.”

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02

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Section 1

The Government may appoint one or more commissioners, by commission, to conduct an inquiry when it considers this expedient.

Section 1

Section 6

The commissioners may investigate the matters referred to them, using lawful means they think fit to discover the truth.

Section 6

Section 11

A person who refuses to be sworn, or who without just cause refuses to answer lawful questions or give testimony, is in contempt of court and may be punished.

Section 11

Section 16

Commissioners have the same protection and privileges as judges of the Superior Court for acts done or omitted in the execution of their duty.

Section 16

Schedule

This schedule states that chapter 11 of the Revised Statutes, 1964, is repealed when chapter C-37 of the Revised Statutes comes into force.

Schedule

04

Source and current-law status

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Source record from www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca · Source version 10 Jun 2026

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Showing 21 of 21 provisions

Provision 19Repeal 2
§ 1Section 1Provision

Source excerpt

The Government may appoint one or more commissioners, by commission, to conduct an inquiry when it considers this expedient.

1. Whenever the Government deems it expedient to cause inquiry to be made into and concerning any matter connected with the good government of Québec, the conduct of any part of the public business, the administration of justice or any matter of importance relating to public health, or to the welfare of the population, it may, by a commission issued to that effect, appoint one or more commissioners by whom such inquiry shall be conducted. R. S. 1964, c. 11, s. 1.
Section 1Verify source
§ 2Section 2Provision

Source excerpt

Commissioners must take an oath of office before a judge of the Superior Court before acting.

2. The commissioners so appointed shall, before acting, take the following oath of office before a judge of the Superior Court: “I, A. B., declare under oath that I will exercise and perform the powers and duties vested in me by the provisions of the Act respecting public inquiry commissions (chapter C-37), according to the best of my knowledge and judgment.”. R. S. 1964, c. 11, s. 2; 1999, c. 40, s. 66.
Section 2Verify source
§ 3Section 3Provision

Source excerpt

The Government may appoint a secretary to the commission, and the commissioners may hire staff and incur necessary expenses, with ministerial authorization for hiring.

3. The Government may also appoint a secretary to the commission. The commissioners may, with the authorization of the Minister of Justice, employ stenographers, clerks and messengers. They may also incur such further expenses as may be necessary for the performance of their duties. R. S. 1964, c. 11, s. 3; 1965 (1st sess.), c. 16, s. 21.
Section 3Verify source
§ 4Section 4Provision

Source excerpt

The Government fixes the salaries of the commissioners, secretary, stenographers, clerks, and messengers.

4. The salaries of the commissioners, secretary, stenographers, clerks and messengers shall be fixed by the Government. R. S. 1964, c. 11, s. 4.
Section 4Verify source
§ 5Section 5Provision

Source excerpt

The commissioners must hold inquiry meetings within a reasonable time, give notice of the first meeting in specified French and English newspapers, and not adjourn the inquiry for more than one week unless authorized by the Minister of Justice.

5. The commissioners shall, within a reasonable time after their appointment, hold meetings for the purposes of the inquiry, at the place where the necessary information is to be obtained. They shall give notice of the time and place of their first meeting, in two French and two English newspapers published nearest to the place of meeting. The commissioners shall not adjourn the inquiry for a period of more than one week, unless they be duly authorized to that effect by the Minister of Justice. R. S. 1964, c. 11, s. 5; 1965 (1st sess.), c. 16, s. 21.
Section 5Verify source
§ 6Section 6Provision

Source excerpt

The commissioners may investigate the matters referred to them, using lawful means they think fit to discover the truth.

6. The commissioners may, by all such lawful means as they may think best fitted to discover the truth, inquire into the matters referred to them for investigation. As soon as the inquiry is completed, they shall report the result, with all evidence taken during the inquiry, to the Government, which shall order such action to be taken in the matter as shall be warranted by the evidence and report. R. S. 1964, c. 11, s. 6.
Section 6Verify source
§ 7Section 7Provision

Source excerpt

A majority of the commissioners must attend and preside at the hearing of witnesses.

7. A majority of the commissioners must attend and preside at the hearing of witnesses, and they, or a majority of them, shall have, with respect to the proceedings upon the hearing, all the powers of a judge of the Superior Court in term. R. S. 1964, c. 11, s. 7.
Section 7Verify source
§ 8Section 8Provision

Source excerpt

The Government may grant indemnity to commissioners appointed under this Act if it considers that advisable.

8. Notwithstanding any legislative provision inconsistent herewith, the Government may grant to commissioners appointed under the authority of this Act such indemnity as it deems advisable. R. S. 1964, c. 11, s. 8.
Section 8Verify source
§ 9Section 9Provision

Source excerpt

The commissioners may summon people to attend and may require documents. A summoned person must attend, answer questions, and produce required records in their custody or control. The commissioners may also require and administer the usual oath or affirmation.

9. The commissioners or any of them may, by a summons under his or their hand or hands, require the attendance before them, at a place and time therein specified, of any person whose evidence may be material to the subject of inquiry, and may order any person to bring before them such books, papers, deeds and writings as appear necessary for arriving at the truth. Every such person shall attend and answer all questions put to them by the commissioners touching the matter to be inquired into, and shall produce before the commissioners all books, papers, cheques, promissory notes, deeds and writings required of him and in his custody or control, according to the tenor of the summons. The commissioners or any one of them may require the usual oath or affirmation from every person examined before them, and may administer the same. R. S. 1964, c. 11, s. 9.
Section 9Verify source
§ 10Section 10Provision

Source excerpt

A person served with a summons who does not appear at the stated time and place may be proceeded against by the commissioners.

10. Any person on whom any summons has been served, in person or by leaving a copy thereof at his usual residence, who fails to appear before the commissioners, at the time and place specified therein, may be proceeded against by the commissioners in the same manner as if he had failed to obey any subpoena or any process lawfully issued from a court of justice. R. S. 1964, c. 11, s. 10.
Section 10Verify source
§ 11Section 11Provision

Source excerpt

A person who refuses to be sworn, or who without just cause refuses to answer lawful questions or give testimony, is in contempt of court and may be punished.

11. Any person refusing to be sworn when duly required, or omitting or refusing, without just cause, sufficiently to answer any question that may be lawfully put to him, or to render any testimony in virtue of this Act, is in contempt of court and shall be punished accordingly. No answer given by any person so heard as a witness may be used against him in any prosecution under any Act, except in the case of prosecution for perjury or for the giving of contradictory evidence. R. S. 1964, c. 11, s. 11; 1986, c. 95, s. 100; 1999, c. 40, s. 66.
Section 11Verify source
§ 12Section 12Provision

Source excerpt

A person who refuses to produce required papers to the commissioners, or is guilty of contempt toward them or their office, may be dealt with for contempt.

12. If any person refuse to produce, before the commissioners, any paper, book, deed or writing in his possession or under his control which they deem necessary to be produced, or if any person be guilty of contempt of the commissioners or of their office, the commissioners may proceed for such contempt in the same manner as any court or judge under like circumstances. R. S. 1964, c. 11, s. 12.
Section 12Verify source
§ 13Section 13Provision

Source excerpt

The commissioners may allow a summoned witness who lives more than 16 km from the place of examination to receive actual travel and maintenance costs while detained by the inquiry.

13. The commissioners may allow to any witness summoned to appear before them, and who resides at more than 16 km from the place of examination, the actual cost of his travelling expenses and cost of maintenance during the time he is detained by the inquiry. R. S. 1964, c. 11, s. 13; 1984, c. 47, s. 213.
Section 13Verify source
§ 14Section 14Provision

Source excerpt

Several officials and inspectors have the powers set out in sections 9 to 13, and the Lieutenant-Governor may grant the same powers to other applicants by order in council when it serves the public service.

14. The Conseil du trésor and the commissioners named by it, the inspectors of correctional facilities and other institutions and any inspector of public offices, and each of such inspectors, the incumbent minister of a department or the persons appointed by him, the Comptroller of Finance and the Deputy Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports, shall have, by law, the powers mentioned in sections 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. The Lieutenant-Governor may, by order in council, whenever he deems it advisable in the interest of the public service, confer the same powers upon any other board, body or person applying therefor, for the purpose of any inquiry to be made by such board, body or person. R. S. 1964, c. 11, s. 14; 1969, c. 21, s. 26; 1970, c. 17, s. 86, s. 102; 1971, c. 48, s. 161; 1977, c. 5, s. 14; 1978, c. 15, s. 140; 1985, c. 38, s. 83; 1988, c. 84, s. 562; 1992, c. 21, s. 141; 1993, c. 51, s. 72; 1994, c. 16, s. 50; 1999, c. 40, s. 66; 2005, c. 28, s. 195; 2002, c. 24, s. 209.
Section 14Verify source
§ 15Section 15Repeal

Source excerpt

Section 15 is repealed.

15. (Repealed). R. S. 1964, c. 11, s. 15; 1971, c. 48, s. 161; 1977, c. 5, s. 14; 1992, c. 21, s. 142.
Section 15Verify source
§ 16Section 16Provision

Source excerpt

Commissioners have the same protection and privileges as judges of the Superior Court for acts done or omitted in the execution of their duty.

16. The commissioners shall have the same protection and privileges as are conferred upon judges of the Superior Court, for any act done or omitted in the execution of their duty. R. S. 1964, c. 11, s. 16.
Section 16Verify source
§ 17Section 17Provision

Source excerpt

Legal proceedings, including an injunction or specified application, must not interfere with or stay the commissioners’ inquiry proceedings.

17. No injunction or application under subparagraph 2 of the first paragraph of article 529 of the Code of Civil Procedure (chapter C-25.01) or any other legal proceeding shall interfere with or stay the proceedings of the commissioners in the inquiry. R. S. 1964, c. 11, s. 17; 1965 (1st sess.), c. 80, a. 1; I.N. 2016-01-01 (NCCP).
Section 17Verify source
§ 18Section 18Provision

Source excerpt

Any person may obtain certified copies of the commissioners’ evidence by paying $0.10 per 100 words.

18. Certified copies of the evidence taken by the commissioners may be obtained by any person applying therefor, on payment therefor at the rate of $0.10 per 100 words. R. S. 1964, c. 11, s. 18.
Section 18Verify source
§ 19Section 19Provision

Source excerpt

The Government must set the date for the commissioners to finish their work and reports, and set the spending limit for the commission.

19. The Government shall fix the date when the commissioners shall complete their labours and reports, and the limit of the expenditure on such commission; after which date all expenses of the commission shall cease. R. S. 1964, c. 11, s. 19.
Section 19Verify source
§ 20Section 20Provision

Source excerpt

Section 20 ceased to have effect on 17 April 1987.

20. (This section ceased to have effect on 17 April 1987). 1982, c. 21, s. 1; U. K., 1982, c. 11, Sch. B, Part I, s. 33.
Section 20Verify source
§ —ScheduleRepeal

Source excerpt

This schedule states that chapter 11 of the Revised Statutes, 1964, is repealed when chapter C-37 of the Revised Statutes comes into force.

In accordance with section 17 of the Act respecting the consolidation of the statutes (chapter R-3), chapter 11 of the Revised Statutes, 1964, in force on 31 December 1977, is repealed effective from the coming into force of chapter C-37 of the Revised Statutes.
ScheduleVerify source

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  • Revised Statutes comes into force. In accordance with section 17 of the Act

    Section Schedule

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  • 10 Jun 2026 · currentEnglish

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