C-1.1 - Act to establish a legal framework for information technology

Section 5 Disposition versions

2001-11-01

5. The legal value of a document, particularly its capacity to produce legal effects and its admissibility as evidence, is neither increased nor diminished solely because of the medium or technology chosen.

A document whose integrity is ensured has the same legal value whether it is a paper document or a document in any other medium, insofar as, in the case of a technology-based document, it otherwise complies with the legal rules applicable to paper documents.

A document in a medium or based on technology that does not allow its integrity to be confirmed or denied may, depending on the circumstances, be admissible as testimonial evidence or real evidence and serve as commencement of proof, as provided for in article 2865 of the Civil Code.

Where the law requires the use of a document, the requirement may be met by a technology-based document whose integrity is ensured.

2001, c. 32, s. 5.