44.5. Every person who contravenes section 6, the first paragraph of section 20, the first paragraph of section 20.1, the first paragraph of section 31 or section 50 commits an offence and is liable, in the case of a natural person, to a fine of $8,000 to $500,000 or, despite article 231 of the Code of Penal Procedure (chapter C-25.1), to a maximum term of imprisonment of 18 months, or to both the fine and imprisonment, or, in other cases, to a fine of $24,000 to $3,000,000.