Bill C-593: An Act to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs Act, the National Defence Act, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act and the Access to Information Act (personal information and medical records)

C-593 Second Session, Forty-first Parliament, 62-63 Elizabeth II, 2013-2014 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-593 An Act to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs Act, the National Defence Act, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act and the Access to Information Act (personal information and medical records) first reading, April 9, 2014 Mr. Hawn 412154 SUMMARY This enactment guarantees that members of the Canadian Forces and members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police will receive a certified copy of their medical records at the time of their release or when they leave the Force, or at any time thereafter upon request. It also provides that the Minister of Veterans Affairs may release the personal information relating to a veteran to the appropriate authorities if the disclosure is in the public interest or would clearly benefit the individual to whom the information relates. Available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address:http://www.parl.gc.ca 2nd Session, 41st Parliament, 62-63 Elizabeth II, 2013-2014 house of commons of canada BILL C-593 An Act to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs Act, the National Defence Act, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act and the Access to Information Act (personal information and medical records) Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows: SHORT TITLE Short title 1. This Act may be cited as the Canadian Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police Former Members Personal Information Act. R.S., c. V-1; 2000, c. 34, par. 95(a)(F) DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ACT 2. The Department of Veterans Affairs Act is amended by adding the following after section 6.6: Personal information 6.61 (1) Personal information relating to a person referred to in subparagraph 4(a)(i) may be made available to appropriate authorities if the Minister is of the opinion that the public interest in disclosure clearly outweighs any invasion of privacy that could result from the disclosure or that disclosure would clearly benefit the individual to whom the information relates. Notice to Privacy Commissioner (2) The Minister shall notify the Privacy Commissioner appointed under section 53 of the Privacy Act in writing of any disclosure of information under subsection (1) prior to the disclosure where reasonably practicable or in any other case without delay after the disclosure. The Privacy Commissioner may, if he or she deems it appropriate, notify the individual to whom the information relates of the disclosure. R.S., c. N-5 NATIONAL DEFENCE ACT 3. The National Defence Act is amended by adding the following after section 30: Medical records 30.1 (1) At the time of his or her release, an officer or a non-commissioned member must be given a certified copy of his or her medical records and a copy of the medical records must be sent to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Former officer or non-commissioned member (2) At any time upon request, a former officer or non-commissioned member must be given a certified copy of his or her medical records. Transfer of medical records (3) Upon request from an officer or a non-commissioned member, his or her medical records shall be transferred to the Department of Veterans Affairs three months before his or her release. R.S., c. R-10 ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE ACT 4. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act is amended by adding the following after subsection 21(2): Exception — medical records (3) Despite any regulations made pursuant to subsection (1) and any rules made pursuant to subsection (2), at the time he or she leaves the Force, a member must be given a certified copy of his or her medical records. Exception — medical records (4) Despite any regulations made pursuant to subsection (1) and any rules made pursuant to subsection (2), at any time upon request, a former member must be given a certified copy of his or her medical records. Transfer of medical records (5) Upon request from a member, his or her medical records shall be transferred to the Department of Veterans Affairs three months before he or she leaves the Force. R.S., c. A-1 ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACT 5. The Access to Information Act is amended by adding the following after subsection 4(1): Medical records (1.1) At any time upon request, a former member of the Canadian Forces or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police shall be given a certified copy of his or her medical records by any government institution listed in Schedule I. Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons