S-12

An Act to establish the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council

1. This Act may be cited as the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Act.

1976-77, c. 24, s. 2.

2. In this Act,

“Council” means the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council established by section 3;

“Minister” means such member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada as is designated by the Governor in Council as the Minister for the purposes of this Act;

“President” means the President of the Council appointed under subsection 5(1);

“Vice-President” means the Vice-President of the Council elected under subsection 6(1).

1976-77, c. 24, s. 3.

3. There is hereby established a corporation, to be called the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, consisting of a president and not more than twenty-one other members to be appointed by the Governor in Council as provided in section 5.

1976-77, c. 24, s. 4.

4. (1) The functions of the Council are to

(a) promote and assist research and scholarship in the social sciences and humanities; and

(b) advise the Minister in respect of such matters relating to such research as the Minister may refer to the Council for its consideration.

(2) The Council, in carrying out its functions under subsection (1), may

(a) expend, for the purposes of this Act, any money appropriated by Parliament for the work of the Council or received by the Council through the conduct of its operations; and

(b) publish and sell or otherwise distribute such scholarly, scientific and technical information relating to the work of the Council as the Council considers necessary.

1976-77, c. 24, s. 5.

5. (1) The President of the Council shall be appointed to hold office for such term, not exceeding five years, as the Governor in Council may determine.

(2) Each of the members of the Council, other than the President, shall be appointed to hold office for such term, not exceeding three years, as will ensure as far as possible the expiration in any one year of the terms of appointment of fewer than half of the members so appointed.

(3) A retiring President or other member is eligible for re-appointment to the Council in the same or another capacity.

1976-77, c. 24, s. 6.

6. (1) The Council may, with the approval of the Governor in Council, elect one of its members to be Vice-President of the Council.

(2) In the event of the absence or incapacity of the President or if the office of President is vacant, the Vice-President has all the powers of the President.

1976-77, c. 24, s. 7.

7. (1) The President shall be paid such salary and expenses as are fixed by the Governor in Council.

(2) The members of the Council, other than the President, shall serve without remuneration but each of those members is entitled to be paid reasonable travel and other expenses incurred by the member while absent from his ordinary place of residence in the course of his duties under this Act.

(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), a member of the Council, other than the President, may, for any period during which the member performs with the approval of the Council any duties on behalf of the Council in addition to the ordinary duties of the member as such, be paid such remuneration therefor as may be authorized by the Council.

1976-77, c. 24, s. 8.

8. The head office of the Council shall be at such place in Canada as may be designated by the Governor in Council.

1976-77, c. 24, s. 9.

9. The Council may meet at such times and at such places in Canada as it considers necessary but it shall meet at least twice a year.

1976-77, c. 24, s. 10.

10. The President is the chief executive officer of the Council and has supervision over and direction of the work and staff of the Council.

1976-77, c. 24, s. 11.

11. (1) There is hereby established an executive committee of the Council consisting of the President, the Vice-President and at least six other members selected by the Council.

(2) The executive committee of the Council may exercise such of the powers and perform such of the functions of the Council as the Council may by by-law assign to it and shall submit at each meeting of the Council minutes of its proceedings since the last preceding meeting of the Council.

1976-77, c. 24, s. 12.

12. (1) Where the Council acquires, by gift, bequest or otherwise, money, securities or other property that it is required to administer subject to the terms on which the money, securities or other property was given, bequeathed or otherwise made available, there shall be established an Investment Committee consisting of the President, a member of the Council designated by the Council and three other persons appointed by the Governor in Council.

(2) The Investment Committee shall aid and advise the Council in making, managing and disposing of investments under this Act.

(3) The members of the Investment Committee appointed by the Governor in Council may be paid for their services such remuneration and expenses as are fixed by the Governor in Council.

R.S., 1985, c. S-12, s. 12; 2004, c. 25, s. 170(F).

13. (1) Subject to the approval of the Governor in Council, the Council may make by-laws for the regulation of its proceedings and generally for the conduct of its activities, including the establishment of special, standing and other committees of the Council.

(2) Any by-law made pursuant to subsection (1) establishing an advisory committee of the Council may provide for the members of the committee to include persons other than members of the Council, in addition to members of the Council.

(3) The members of an advisory committee who are not members of the Council may be paid for their services such remuneration and expenses as are fixed by the Governor in Council.

1976-77, c. 24, s. 14.

14. (1) The Council may

(a) appoint such officers and employees as are necessary for the proper conduct of the work of the Council; and

(b) prescribe the duties of those officers and employees and the conditions of their employment.

(2) The officers and employees of the Council appointed as provided in subsection (1) shall be paid such salaries and expenses as are fixed by the Council with the approval of the Governor in Council.

(3) The Council may authorize the President or any other officer of the Council to appoint persons to perform duties of a temporary nature for a period not exceeding six months.

1976-77, c. 24, s. 15; 1978-79, c. 13, s. 30.

15. (1) The Council is for all its purposes an agent of Her Majesty and it may exercise its powers only as an agent of Her Majesty.

(2) The Council may on behalf of Her Majesty enter into contracts in the name of Her Majesty or in its own name.

(3) Any property acquired by the Council is the property of Her Majesty and title thereto may be vested in the name of Her Majesty or in the name of the Council.

(4) Actions, suits or other legal proceedings in respect of any right or obligation acquired or incurred by the Council on behalf of Her Majesty, whether in its name or in the name of Her Majesty, may be brought or taken by or against the Council in the name of the Council in any court that would have jurisdiction if the Council were not an agent of Her Majesty.

1976-77, c. 24, s. 16.

16. The Public Service Superannuation Act does not apply to members of the Council unless, in the case of any such member, the Governor in Council otherwise directs.

1976-77, c. 24, s. 17.

17. The Council may acquire money, securities or other property by gift, bequest or otherwise and, notwithstanding anything in this Act, may expend, administer or dispose of the money, securities or other property subject to the terms, if any, on which the money, securities or other property is given, bequeathed or otherwise made available to the Council.

R.S., 1985, c. S-12, s. 17; 2001, c. 4, s. 118(F); 2004, c. 25, s. 171(F).

18. The Council may, for the purposes of this Act, acquire, hold, manage and dispose of real, personal, movable and immovable property and, subject to this Act, and on the advice of the Investment Committee, may invest in any manner it sees fit any money received by the Council by gift, bequest or otherwise and may hold, manage and dispose of the investment.

R.S., 1985, c. S-12, s. 18; 2001, c. 4, s. 119.

19. The accounts and financial transactions of the Council shall be audited annually by the Auditor General of Canada, and a report of the audit shall be made to the Council and to the Minister.

1976-77, c. 24, s. 20.

20. (1) The President shall, within four months after the termination of each fiscal year, submit to the Minister a report relating to the activities of the Council for that fiscal year, including the financial statements of the Council and the report thereon of the Auditor General of Canada.

(2) The Minister shall cause the report submitted under subsection (1) to be laid before Parliament within fifteen days after the receipt thereof by the Minister or, if Parliament is not then sitting, on any of the first fifteen days next thereafter that either House of Parliament is sitting.

1976-77, c. 24, s. 21.