Section 19 — Competition Act: Claim to solicitor-client privilege (section 11)

Where a person is ordered to produce a record pursuant to section 11 and that person claims that there exists a solicitor-client privilege in respect thereof, the person shall place it in a package and seal and identify the package and place it in the custody of a person referred to in subsection (3). Where, pursuant to section 15 or 16, any person is about to examine, copy or seize or is in the course of examining, copying or seizing any record and a person appearing to be in authority claims that there exists a solicitor-client privilege in respect thereof, the first-mentioned person, unless the person claiming the privilege withdraws the claim or the first-mentioned person desists from examining and copying the record and from seizing it or a copy thereof, shall, without examining or further examining it or making a copy or further copy thereof, place it and any copies of it made by him, and any notes taken in respect of it, in a package, and seal and identify the package and place it in the custody of a person referred to in subsection (3). A record in respect of which a solicitor-client privilege is claimed under subsection (1) or (2) shall be placed in the custody of the registrar, prothonotary or other like officer of a superior or county court in the province in which the record was ordered to be produced or in which it was found, or of the Federal Court; a sheriff of the district or county in which the record was ordered to be produced or in which it was found; or some person agreed on between the Commissioner or the authorized representative of the Commissioner and the person who makes the claim of privilege. A judge of a superior or county court in the province in which a record placed in custody under this section was ordered to be produced or in which it was found, or of the Federal Court, sitting in camera , may decide the question of solicitor-client privilege in relation to the record on application made in accordance with the rules of the court by the Commissioner or the owner of the record or the person in whose possession it was found if notice of the application has been given by the applicant to all other persons entitled to make application. [Repealed, 2024, c. 15, s. 231] A judge referred to in subsection (4) may give any directions that the judge deems necessary to give effect to this section, may order delivery up to the judge out of custody of any record in respect of which he is asked to decide a question of solicitor-client privilege and may inspect any such record. Any person who is about to examine, copy or seize any record pursuant to section 15 or 16 shall not do so without affording a reasonable opportunity for a claim of solicitor-client privilege to be made under this section. At any time while a record is in custody under this section, a judge of a superior or county court in the province in which the record is in custody, or of the Federal Court, may, on an ex parte application of a person claiming solicitor-client privilege under this section, authorize that person to examine the record or make a copy of it in the presence of the person who has custody of it or the judge, but any such authorization shall contain provisions to ensure that the record is repackaged and that the package is resealed without alteration or damage.