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Criminal Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46)

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Act current to 2024-08-18 and last amended on 2024-07-20. Previous Versions

Marginal note:High treason

  •  (1) Every one commits high treason who, in Canada,

    • (a) kills or attempts to kill Her Majesty, or does her any bodily harm tending to death or destruction, maims or wounds her, or imprisons or restrains her;

    • (b) levies war against Canada or does any act preparatory thereto; or

    • (c) assists an enemy at war with Canada, or any armed forces against whom Canadian Forces are engaged in hostilities, whether or not a state of war exists between Canada and the country whose forces they are.

  • Marginal note:Treason

    (2) Every one commits treason who, in Canada,

    • (a) uses force or violence for the purpose of overthrowing the government of Canada or a province;

    • (b) without lawful authority, communicates or makes available to an agent of a state other than Canada, military or scientific information or any sketch, plan, model, article, note or document of a military or scientific character that he knows or ought to know may be used by that state for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or defence of Canada;

    • (c) conspires with any person to commit high treason or to do anything mentioned in paragraph (a);

    • (d) forms an intention to do anything that is high treason or that is mentioned in paragraph (a) and manifests that intention by an overt act; or

    • (e) conspires with any person to do anything mentioned in paragraph (b) or forms an intention to do anything mentioned in paragraph (b) and manifests that intention by an overt act.

  • Marginal note:Canadian citizen

    (3) Notwithstanding subsection (1) or (2), a Canadian citizen or a person who owes allegiance to Her Majesty in right of Canada,

    • (a) commits high treason if, while in or out of Canada, he does anything mentioned in subsection (1); or

    • (b) commits treason if, while in or out of Canada, he does anything mentioned in subsection (2).

  • Marginal note:Overt act

    (4) Where it is treason to conspire with any person, the act of conspiring is an overt act of treason.

  • R.S., c. C-34, s. 46
  • 1974-75-76, c. 105, s. 2

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