Section 327.1 — Excise Tax Act: Definitions

The definitions in subsection 285.01(1) apply in this section. Every person that, without lawful excuse, the proof of which lies on the person, uses an electronic suppression of sales device or a similar device or software in relation to records that are required to be kept by any person under section 286, acquires or possesses an electronic suppression of sales device, or a right in respect of an electronic suppression of sales device, that is, or is intended to be, capable of being used in relation to records that are required to be kept by any person under section 286, designs, develops, manufactures, possesses for sale, offers for sale, sells, transfers or otherwise makes available to another person an electronic suppression of sales device that is, or is intended to be, capable of being used in relation to records that are required to be kept by any person under section 286, supplies installation, upgrade or maintenance services for an electronic suppression of sales device that is, or is intended to be, capable of being used in relation to records that are required to be kept by any person under section 286, or participates in, assents to or acquiesces in the commission of, or conspires with any person to commit, an offence described in any of paragraphs (a) to (d), is guilty of an offence and, in addition to any penalty otherwise provided, is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than $10,000 and not more than $500,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both. Every person that is charged with an offence described in subsection (2) may, at the election of the Attorney General of Canada, be prosecuted on indictment and, if convicted, is, in addition to any penalty otherwise provided, liable to a fine of not less than $50,000 and not more than $1,000,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or to both. A person that is convicted of an offence under this section is not liable to pay a penalty imposed under any of sections 280.1, 280.11 and 283 to 285.1 or under a regulation made under this Part for the same action unless a notice of assessment for that penalty was issued before the information or complaint giving rise to the conviction was laid or made. If, in any appeal under this Part, substantially the same facts are at issue as those that are at issue in a prosecution under this section, the Minister may file a stay of proceedings with the Tax Court and upon that filing the proceedings before the Tax Court are stayed pending final determination of the outcome of the prosecution.