Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2023)

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

ARTICLE 1
Definitions

In the Understanding, unless a different meaning is indicated by the context, the following definitions shall apply:

1.  

   (a)     “competent authority”: the Minister of Quebec or the Minister of Saint Lucia responsible for the application of the legislation referred to in paragraph 1 of Article 2;

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   (b)     “competent institution”: the department or agency of Quebec or the department or agency of Saint Lucia responsible for the administration of the legislation referred to in paragraph 1 of Article 2;

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   (c)     “period of insurance”: any year for which contributions have been paid or for which a disability pension has been paid under the Act respecting the Quebec Pension Plan; and as regards Saint Lucia, a period of contributions, whether paid or credited;

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   (d)     “benefit”: a pension, an annuity, an allowance, a lump-sum grant or any other benefit in cash or in kind provided under the legislation of each Party, including any extension, supplement or increase thereto;

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   (e)     “national”: a person of Canadian citizenship residing in Quebec or a person of Saint Lucia citizenship,

and any term not defined in the Understanding shall be understood as having the meaning given to it in the applicable legislation.

ARTICLE 2
Material Scope

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   1.   The Understanding shall apply:

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      (a)     to the legislation of Quebec concerning the Quebec Pension Plan:

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      (b)     to the legislation of Saint Lucia concerning retirement benefits, invalidity benefits, survivor's benefits and funeral grants.

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   2.   The Understanding shall apply equally to any legislative or regulatory act which modifies, adds to, or replaces the legislation referred to in paragraph 1.

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   3.   The Understanding shall apply also to any legislative or regulatory act of the Party which extends the existing systems to new categories of beneficiaries; however, this Party may, within 3 months of the date of the official publication of that act, notify the other Party that the Understanding shall not apply.

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   4.   The Understanding shall not apply to a legislative or regulatory act which covers a new branch of social security, unless the Understanding is modified to that effect.

ARTICLE 3
Personal Scope

Unless otherwise provided, the Understanding shall apply:

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   (a)     to nationals of each Party;

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   (b)     to refugees, within the meaning of Article 1 of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees of July 28, 1951, and of the Protocol of January 31, 1967, to that Convention;

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   (c)     to stateless persons, within the meaning of Article 1 of the Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons of September 28, 1954;

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   (d)     to other persons who are or have been subject to the legislation of a Party.

ARTICLE 4
Equality of Treatment

Unless otherwise provided in the Understanding, persons designated in Article 3 shall, in the application of the legislation of a Party, receive equal treatment with the nationals of that Party.

ARTICLE 5
Export of Benefits

1.  

   1.   Unless otherwise provided in the Understanding, any benefit acquired under the legislation of one Party, as well as benefits acquired under the Understanding, may not suffer any reduction, modification, suspension, suppression or confiscation solely as a result of the beneficiary residing or sojourning in the territory of the other Party, and such benefit shall be payable in the territory of the other Party.

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   2.   Any benefit which, under the Understanding, is payable by one Party in the territory of the other Party, shall also be payable outside the territory of either Party under the same conditions that the first Party applies to its nationals under its internal legislation.