Ontario Child Benefit Equivalent Act, 2009, S.O. 2009, c. 18 , Sched. 19

Definitions 1. In this Act, “agency” means, (a) a corporation, or (b) another entity that is prescribed; (“organisme”) “child” means a person under the age of 18 years; (“enfant”) “child benefit equivalent” means an amount, paid in accordance with this Act, that is equivalent to the Ontario child benefit; (“subvention équivalant à la prestation pour enfants”) “Minister” means the Minister of Children and Youth Services or any other member of the Executive Council to whom the administration of this Act is assigned under the Executive Council Act; (“ministre”) “prescribed” means prescribed by the regulations; (“prescrit”) “regulations” means the regulations made under this Act. (“règlements”) 2009, c. 18, Sched. 19, s. 1. Child benefit equivalent 2. (1) A child benefit equivalent shall be paid at intervals determined by the Minister with respect to every qualified child, in accordance with this Act. 2009, c. 18, Sched. 19, s. 2 (1). Qualified child (2) A child is qualified for the purpose of subsection (1) if, (a) the child is in the care of a prescribed agency or of an agency that is a member of a prescribed class of agencies and a special allowance is payable with respect to the child under the Children’s Special Allowances Act (Canada); or (b) the prescribed circumstances apply. 2009, c. 18, Sched. 19, s. 2 (2). Amount linked to Ontario child benefit (3) The amount of the child benefit equivalent for a month is the same as the maximum Ontario child benefit that would be payable for that month in respect of a qualified dependant, (a) until December 31, 2008, under subsection 8.6.2 (7) of the Income Tax Act; and (b) on and after January 1, 2009, under subsection 104 (5) of the Taxation Act, 2007. 2009, c. 18, Sched. 19, s. 2 (3). Rules 3. The following rules apply with respect to the child benefit equivalent: 1. The child benefit equivalent is payable in respect of a qualified child in accordance with guidelines made by the Minister. 2. The child benefit equivalent in respect of a qualified child may be paid to one agency or divided among two or more agencies, as the Minister directs. The Minister has discretion to direct, at any time, i. payment to a different agency or agencies, or ii. a different division of the payment. 3. The child benefit equivalent shall be used in accordance with guidelines made by the Minister. 4. An agency that receives the child benefit equivalent shall, i. keep the money in a separate account or accounts and not mingle it with the agency’s general funds, and ii. manage the money and keep records with respect to it, in accordance with guidelines made by the Minister. 5. Payment of a child benefit equivalent ceases, i. when the child in respect of whom it is paid ceases to be a qualified child, or ii. in the prescribed circumstances. 2009, c. 18, Sched. 19, s. 3. Administration memoranda of understanding or agreements 4. (1) The Minister may enter into one or more memoranda of understanding with the Minister of Revenue or another member of the Executive Council or into an agreement with a prescribed entity to administer the payment of the child benefit equivalent. 2009, c. 18, Sched. 19, s. 4 (1). Authority to enter into memoranda (2) Any member of the Executive Council has authority to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Minister under subsection (1). 2009, c. 18, Sched. 19, s. 4 (2). Agreements for information sharing 5. (1) The Minister may enter into an agreement with the Government of Canada or a department, ministry or agency of it for the purpose of obtaining information in connection with the administration of this Act or the regulations. 2009, c. 18, Sched. 19, s. 5 (1). Same (2) A member of the Executive Council who has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Minister under subsection 4 (1), or a prescribed entity that has entered into an agreement under subsection 4 (1) may enter into an agreement with the Government of Canada or a department, ministry or agency of it for the purpose of obtaining information in connection with the administration of the payment of the child benefit equivalent. 2009, c. 18, Sched. 19, s. 5 (2). Personal information 6. (1) The Minister has authority to collect, use and disclose personal information as required to administer this Act and the regulations. 2009, c. 18, Sched. 19, s. 6 (1). Same (2) When a memorandum of understanding or an agreement entered into under subsection 4 (1) is in force, the Minister of Revenue, the other member of the Executive Council or the prescribed entity, as the case may be, has authority to collect, use and disclose personal information as required to administer the payment of the child benefit equivalent. 2009, c. 18, Sched. 19, s. 6 (2). Same (3) Subsection 39 (2) (notice re collection) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act does not apply to the collection of information under subsection 5 (1) or (2) if the collection is done by data matching. 2009, c. 18, Sched. 19, s. 6 (3). Reports 7. An agency that receives the child benefit equivalent shall make a report to the Minister whenever the Minister requests it, in the form and containing the information specified by the Minister. 2009, c. 18, Sched. 19, s. 7. Duty of compliance 8. (1) An agency that receives the child benefit equivalent shall comply with this Act, the regulations and any guidelines made by the Minister for the purposes of paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 of section 3. 2009, c. 18, Sched. 19, s. 8 (1). Minister’s authority (2) If, in the Minister’s opinion, an agency that receives the child benefit equivalent is not complying with subsection (1), the Minister has discretion to direct the suspension or reduction of the payment of the child benefit equivalent to the agency or to direct the payment of all or part of the child benefit equivalent to another agency. 2009, c. 18, Sched. 19, s. 8 (2). Inspection, etc. 9. (1) For the purpose of ensuring compliance with this Act, the regulations and any guidelines made by the Minister for the purposes of paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 of section 3, a person authorized by the Minister may, at all reasonable times, upon producing proper identification, (a) enter the premises of an agency that receives the child benefit equivalent; (b) inspect the facilities and the records relating to the child benefit equivalent; (c) make copies of the records or remove them from the premises to copy them as may be reasonably required; and (d) use any data storage, processing or retrieval device or system in order to produce a document or record in readable form. 2009, c. 18, Sched. 19, s. 9 (1). Regulations re exercise of power of entry (2) The authorized person shall exercise the power of entry set out in subsection (1) in accordance with the regulations. 2009, c. 18, Sched. 19, s. 9 (2). Appropriation 10. Money required for the purposes of this Act shall be paid out of the money appropriated for those purposes by the Legislature. 2009, c. 18, Sched. 19, s. 10. Guidelines 11. Section 82 (general or particular) of the Legislation Act, 2006 applies with necessary modifications to guidelines made for the purposes of paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 of section 3. 2009, c. 18, Sched. 19, s. 11. Regulations 12. The Minister may make regulations, (a) prescribing entities for the purpose of the definition of “agency” in section 1; (b) prescribing agencies or classes of agencies for the purpose of clause 2 (2) (a); (c) prescribing circumstances for the purpose of clause 2 (2) (b); (d) prescribing circumstances for the purpose of subparagraph 5 ii of section 3; (e) prescribing entities for the purpose of section 4; (f) respecting the child benefit equivalent, including, without limitation, the calculation, payment, adjustment, reconciliation, repayment and recovery of the child benefit equivalent; (g) respecting the exercise of the power of entry set out in subsection 9 (1); (h) respecting the payment of amounts to agencies in respect of children in respect of whom special allowances were payable to those agencies for July, 2007 under the Children’s Special Allowances Act (Canada), including, without limitation, prescribing the amount to be paid in respect of each child. 2009, c. 18, Sched. 19, s. 12. 13. Omitted (provides for coming into force of provisions of this Act). 2009, c. 18, Sched. 19, s. 13. 14. Omitted (enacts short title of this Act). 2009, c. 18, Sched. 19, s. 14. ______________