An Act respecting Inquiries concerning Public Matters

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31 Victoria, c. 38 (Canada)

An Act respecting Inquiries concerning Public Matters.

[Assented to 22nd May, 1868.]

Preamble.

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

Governor in Council may confer on commissioners appointed to make inquiry on public matter, power to examine on oath, &c.

1. Whenever the Governor in Council deems it expedient to cause inquiry to be made into and concerning any matter connected with the good government of Canada, or conduct of any part of the Public business thereof, and such inquiry is not regulated by any special Law, the Governor may, by the Commission in the case, confer upon the Commissioners or persons by whom such inquiry is to be conducted, the power of summoning before them any party or witnesses, and of requiring them to give evidence on oath, orally or in writing, (or on solemn affirmation if they be parties entitled to affirm in civil matters) and to produce such documents and things as such Commissioners deem requisite to the full investigation of the matters into which they are appointed to examine:

Power to commissioners to compel attendance of witnesses.

2. The Commissioner or Commissioners shall then have the same power to enforce the attendance of such witnesses and to compel them to give evidence, as is vested in any Court of Law in Civil cases; and any wilfully false statement made by any such witness on oath or solemn aflirmation, shall be a misdemeanor punishable in the same manner as wilful and corrupt perjury;

Proviso.

but no such party or witness shall be compelled to answer an question, by his answer to which he might render himself liable to a criminal prosecution.

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