Canada's Bill C-22 Mandates Mass Metadata Surveillance of Canadians

Bill C-22 If you have any questions or comments regarding the accessibility of this publication, please contact us at [email protected] . First Reading LEGIS info Bilingual view XML PDF Skip to Document Navigation Skip to Document Content ENGLISH RECOMMENDATION RECOMMENDATION SUMMARY SUMMARY TABLE OF PROVISIONS TABLE OF PROVISIONS 1 Alternative Title 1 Alternative Title 2 PART 1 Timely Access to Data and Information 2 PART 1 Timely Access to Data and Information 2 Criminal Code 2 Criminal Code 2 Amendments to the Act 2 Amendments to the Act 28 Consequential Amendment to the Foreign Publishers Advertising Services Act 28 Consequential Amendment to the Foreign Publishers Advertising Services Act 29 Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 29 Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 30 Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act 30 Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act 37 Controlled Drugs and Substances Act 37 Controlled Drugs and Substances Act 38 Cannabis Act 38 Cannabis Act 39 Coordinating Amendments 39 Coordinating Amendments 40 Coming into Force 40 Coming into Force 41 PART 2 Supporting Authorized Access to Information Act 41 PART 2 Supporting Authorized Access to Information Act 41 Enactment of Act 41 Enactment of Act 42 Related and Consequential Amendments to the Intelligence Commissioner Act 42 Related and Consequential Amendments to the Intelligence Commissioner Act 47 Coming into Force 47 Coming into Force 48 PART 3 Parliamentary Review 48 PART 3 Parliamentary Review SCHEDULE SCHEDULE First Session, Forty-fifth Parliament, 3-4 Charles III, 2025-2026 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-22 An Act respecting lawful access FIRST READING, March 12, 2026 MINISTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY 91256 RECOMMENDATION Her Excellency the Governor General recommends to the House of Commons the appropriation of public revenue under the circumstances, in the manner and for the purposes set out in a measure entitled “ An Act respecting lawful access ”. SUMMARY Part 1 amends various Acts to modernize certain provisions respecting the timely gathering and production of data and information during an investigation. It, among other things, (a) amends the Criminal Code to, among other things, (i) facilitate access to basic information that will assist in the investigation of federal offences through confirmation of service demands given to telecommunications service providers or judicial production orders for the production of subscriber information, (ii) expedite the response to production orders by shortening the review process and clarify the ability of peace officers and public officers to receive and act on certain information that is voluntarily provided to them and to obtain and act on information that is publicly available, (iii) specify certain circumstances in which peace officers and public officers may obtain evidence, including subscriber information, in exigent circumstances, (iv) allow a justice or judge to authorize, in a warrant, a peace officer or public officer to obtain tracking data or transmission data that relates to any thing that is similar to a thing in relation to which data is authorized to be obtained under the warrant and that is unknown at the time the warrant is issued, (v) provide and clarify authorities by which computer data may be examined, and (vi) allow a justice or judge to authorize a peace officer or public officer to make a request to a foreign entity that provides telecommunications services — or that provides services by a means of telecommunication — to the public to produce transmission data or subscriber information that is in its possession or control; (b) makes a consequential amendment to the Foreign Publishers Advertising Services Act ; (c) amends the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act to allow the Minister of Justice to authorize a competent authority to make arrangements for the enforcement of a decision made by an authority of a state or entity that is empowered to compel the production of transmission data or subscriber information that is in the possession or control of a person in Canada; (d) amends the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act to, among other things, (i) facilitate access to basic information that will assist the Canadian Security Intelligence Service in the performance of its duties and functions under section 12 or 16 of that Act through confirmation of service demands given to telecommunications service providers and judicial orders against those providers, and (ii) clarify the response time for production orders; and (e) amends the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Cannabis Act to provide and clarify authorities by which computer data may be examined. Part 2 enacts the Supporting Authorized Access to Information Act . That Act establishes a framework for ensuring that electronic service providers can facilitate the exercise, by authorized persons, of authorities to access information conferred under the Criminal Code or the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act . It also makes related and consequential amendments to the Intelligence Commissioner Act . Part 3 provides for the parliamentary review of Parts 1 and 2. Available on the House of Commons website at the following address: www.ourcommons.ca TABLE OF PROVISIONS An Act respecting lawful access Alternative Title 1 Lawful Access Act, 2026 PART 1 Timely Access to Data and Information 2 PART 2 Supporting Authorized Access to Information Act 41 Enactment of Act An Act respecting the obligations of electronic service providers in relation to authorized access to information Short Title 1 Supporting Authorized Access to Information Act Interpretation 2 Definitions Purpose 3 Purpose His Majesty 4 Binding on His Majesty Core Providers 5 Core providers — classes 6 Temporary exemption Ministerial Orders 7 Order 8 Representations 9 Intelligence Commissioner 10 Duration 11 Review 12 Compliance with order 13 Order prevails Obligation to Assist 14 Obligation to assist Confidentiality 15 Prohibition on disclosure 16 Confidential information 17 Judicial review — notice to Minister 18 Regulations — confidentiality and security Administration and Enforcement Designation 19 Designation Inspections 20 Authority to enter place 21 Dwelling-house Internal Audit 22 Audit order 23 Compliance with order Compliance Order 24 Power to order termination of contravention 25 Compliance with order 26 Request for review 27 Decision on completion of review Administrative Monetary Penalties Violations 28 Purpose of penalty 29 Commission of violations 30 Proof of violation 31 Violation by corporate officers, etc. Proceedings 32 Issuance of notice of violation 33 Limitation or prescription period 34 How act or omission may be proceeded with Payment of Penalties and Alternatives to Payment 35 Effect of payment Compliance Agreements 36 Compliance agreements 37 Refusal to enter into compliance agreement Review by the Minister 38 Review — facts Recovery of Debts 39 Debt to His Majesty 40 Certificate Offences 41 Offences — general 42 Proof of offence 43 Offence by corporate officers, etc. 44 Obstruction 45 False or misleading statements 46 Punishment Regulations 47 Regulations 48 Distinguishing Report 49 Annual report PART 3 Parliamentary Review 48 SCHEDULE 1st Session, 45th Parliament, 3

4 Charles III, 2025

2026 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-22 An Act respecting lawful access His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows: Alternative Title Alternative title 1 This Act may be cited as the Lawful Access Act, 2026 . PART 1 Timely Access to Data and Information R.‍S.‍, c. C-46 Criminal Code Amendments to the Act 2 Subsection 462.‍32 ( 3 ) of the Criminal Code is replaced by the following: Other provisions to apply ( 3 ) Subsections 487 ( 2.‍1 ) to Insertion start ( 2.‍3 ) and ( 2.‍5 ) to Insertion end ( 3 ) and section 488 apply, with any modifications that the circum