Bill C-335: An Act respecting the establishment and award of a Defence of Canada Medal (1946-1989)

Short Title Short title 1 This Act may be cited as the Defence of Canada Medal Act (1946-1989) . Interpretation Definitions 2 The following definitions apply in this Act. Canadian Forces  means the armed forces referred to in section 14 of the National Defence Act and includes any predecessor naval, army or air forces of Canada or Newfoundland. ( Forces canadiennes ) Medal  means the Defence of Canada Medal (1946-1989). ( médaille ) Minister  means the Minister of National Defence. ( mi­nistre ) service  excludes time served (a) outside Canada in employment with intergovernmental organizations such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces in Europe; (b) at Canadian Forces Station Alert; or (c) as a member of any peacekeeping mission in which Canada was involved, including the Korean War. ( service ) Medal Design of Medal 3 The Governor in Council may determine the design of the Medal and its associated ribbon. Award of Medal 4 (1) The Governor in Council may award the Medal to any Canadian citizen or permanent resident with a minimum cumulative period of three years of service in one or more of the following organizations during the period commencing on June 1, 1946, and ending on November 30, 1989: (a) the Canadian Forces; (b) police services that were trained and engaged in national survival and counter-espionage; (c) provincial and municipal organizations whose role it was to protect the civilian population or render social and medical aid in case of a nuclear attack; (d) recognized civilian organizations that undertook National Survival Training and stood ready to apply it in case of a national emergency; and (e) the Canadian Coast Guard. Single award (2) The Medal is not to be awarded more than once to the same person. Excluded persons (3) The Medal is not to be awarded to a person within a class of persons excluded by the regulations. Posthumous award 5 (1) The Medal may be awarded posthumously. Next of kin (2) If a Medal is awarded posthumously, it is presented to the next of kin specified by the person in whose name it is awarded or, if that next of kin is deceased or cannot be readily located, to the person best suited, in the opinion of the Minister, to receive it. Awards ceremony 6 In order to acquaint younger Canadians with the historical period that the Medal covers, when an award is made, a ceremony must, whenever possible, be held in the presence of family members and the media. Wearing of Medal 7 The Medal is to be worn in accordance with the Canadian Order of Precedence of Orders, Decorations and Medals. Nomination by Minister 8 (1) The Minister must nominate for award of the Medal those persons who meet the qualifications prescribed by the regulations and who are members or former members of the Canadian Forces. Nomination by Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (2) The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness must nominate for award of the Medal those persons who meet the qualifications prescribed by the regulations and who are members or former members of a Canadian police force. Nomination by another minister (3) Any minister of the Crown may nominate for award of the Medal any person who meets the qualifications prescribed by the regulations and who is serving under the administration of the minister of the Crown or in a program under the administration of the minister of the Crown. Regulations Regulations 9 (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations (a) respecting the qualifications of persons or classes of persons who may be awarded the Medal; (b) prescribing classes of persons who are excluded from entitlement to the Medal; (c) specifying how the Medal is to be presented; (d) respecting information relating to the nomination process; and (e) prescribing persons who may be considered as next of kin. Report to Parliament (2) If no regulations have been made under subsection (1) within two years after the day on which this section comes into force, the Minister must cause a report to be laid before each House of Parliament on any of the first 10 days on which that House is sitting after the expiry of that two-year period. Reasons (3) The report must include an explanation of the reasons why the regulations have not been made and establish a schedule for the making of those regulations. Prerogative not affected 10 Nothing in this Act limits the right of the Governor General to exercise all powers and authorities of His Majesty in respect of the Medal.