Legislative summaries

  1. Legislative Summary of Bill C-8: An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts

    (Revised)
    Legislative Summary
    45-1
    pv_45-1-c8-e.pdf (702.26 KB)
    Bill C-8 establishes a regulatory framework to protect systems and services essential to public safety or national security. Bill C-8 largely mirrors the provisions of Bill C-26, which was introduced in June 2022 during the 44th Parliament. This framework has two parts. The first part amends the Telecommunications Act to add the security of Canada’s telecommunications system as a public policy objective and gives the federal government greater powers to order a telecommunications service provider (TSP) to take measures to counter cyber threats. The second part enacts the Critical Cyber Systems Protection Act (CCSPA), which imposes new cyber security requirements on federally regulated entities operating in sectors that are considered vital to public safety or national security, such as finance, nuclear and electric power, telecommunications and transportation.

    This legislative summary is available as an unedited preliminary version in PDF format only. If the bill receives Royal Assent, this version will be replaced by a final version available in both HTML and PDF formats.

    Computer crime
    Critical infrastructure protection
    Cyberterrorism
    Internet security
    Legislation
    Public safety
    Telecommunications
    Telecommunications service providers

  2. Legislative Summary of Bill C-2: An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of the border between Canada and the United States and respecting other related security measures

    (Revised)
    Legislative Summary
    45-1
    pv_45-1-c2-e.pdf (779.3 KB)
    Bill C-2 aims to strengthen Canadian national security by providing law enforcement with enhanced tools to secure the country’s borders, disrupt transnational organized crime and the influx of illegal fentanyl, and combat money laundering. According to the federal government, these modifications will reinforce Canada’s ability to counter increasingly sophisticated criminal networks, and enhance the integrity and fairness of Canada’s immigration system while safeguarding both Canadians’ privacy and rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. On 19 June 2025, the Minister of Justice’s Charter Statement for Bill C-2 was tabled in the House of Commons.

    This legislative summary is available as an unedited preliminary version in PDF format only. If the bill receives Royal Assent, this version will be replaced by a final version available in both HTML and PDF formats.

    Border security
    Canada
    Drug-related crime
    Fentanyl
    Immigration enforcement
    Information sharing
    Law enforcement agencies
    Legislation
    Money laundering
    Organized crime
    United States of America

  3. Legislative Summary of Bill C-5: An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act

    Legislative Summary
    45-1
    45-1-c5-e.pdf (687.74 KB)
    Bill C-5, An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act (short title: One Canadian Economy Act), enacts two new statutes. Part 1 introduces the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act, which creates a framework to remove federal barriers to the interprovincial movement of goods and services that already meet comparable provincial and territorial requirements, and improve labour mobility within Canada by providing for federal recognition of provincial and territorial authorizations to practise occupations. Part 2 enacts the Building Canada Act, which establishes an accelerated approval process for infrastructure projects that have been determined as being in the national interest and allows the creation of an office to coordinate this approval process.

    This legislative summary is available as an unedited preliminary version in PDF format only. If the bill receives Royal Assent, this version will be replaced by a final version available in both HTML and PDF formats.

    Free trade
    Internal trade barriers
    Interprovincial trade
    Legislation
    Transport and infrastructure

  4. Legislative Summary of Bill C-4: An Act respecting certain affordability measures for Canadians and another measure

    Legislative Summary
    45-1
    45-1-c4-e.pdf (704.05 KB)
    Bill C-4, An Act respecting certain affordability measures for Canadians and another measure (short title: “Making Life More Affordable for Canadians Act”), has four parts. Part 1 amends the Income Tax Act to reduce the marginal personal income tax rate on the lowest tax bracket from 15% to 14.5% for the 2025 taxation year and to 14% for subsequent taxation years. Part 2 amends the Excise Tax Act and other related Regulations to introduce a new rebate for first-time home buyers. Part 3 enacts amendments to the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (GGPPA) and the Fuel Charge Regulations to repeal the consumer carbon tax. Part 4 amends the Canada Elections Act to make changes to the requirements relating to political parties’ policies for the protection of personal information.

    This legislative summary is available as an unedited preliminary version in PDF format only. If the bill receives Royal Assent, this version will be replaced by a final version available in both HTML and PDF formats.

    Carbon taxes
    Excise taxes
    Goods and services tax
    Housing
    Legislation
    Personal data
    Personal income taxes
    Political parties
    Privacy
    Tax credits

  5. Legislative Summary of Bill C-61: An Act respecting water, source water, drinking water, wastewater and related infrastructure on First Nation lands

    Legislative Summary
    44-1
    pv_44-1-c61-e.pdf (1.64 MB)
    Among other things, Bill C-61: affirms that First Nations’ inherent right of self-government includes jurisdiction over water, drinking water, source water, wastewater and related infrastructure on, in and under lands reserved for First Nations (First Nations lands); establishes principles for decision making regarding water services on First Nations lands; establishes minimum standards for water service provision on First Nations lands; and establishes a federal regulatory regime regarding water services on First Nations lands.

    This legislative summary is available as an unedited preliminary version in PDF format only. If the bill receives Royal Assent, this version will be replaced by a final version available in both HTML and PDF formats.

    Crown-Indigenous relations
    Drinking water
    First Nations
    Indigenous self-government rights
    Legislation
    Water management
    Water supply

  6. Legislative Summary of Bill C-72: An Act respecting the interoperability of health information technology and to prohibit data blocking by health information technology vendors

    Legislative Summary
    44-1
    pv_44-1-c72-e.pdf (475.92 KB)
    This bill (short title: Connected Care for Canadians Act) seeks to enable access to and use and exchange of electronic health information; and prohibit data blocking by health information technology vendors. The preamble recognizes several key issues and objectives related to the accessibility and interoperability of health information in Canada. It acknowledges a context of increasing mobility among Canadians and health care professionals and a growing use of digital health tools, notably in rural and remote areas. Against this backdrop, the preamble highlights the need for easy, complete and secure access to health information for patients and health care professionals alike, to promote patient safety, improved health outcomes, equitable care and innovation. Finally, the preamble expresses Parliament’s desire to foster cooperation among governments and stakeholders to establish standards for a connected health system.

    This legislative summary is available as an unedited preliminary version in PDF format only. If the bill receives Royal Assent, this version will be replaced by a final version available in both HTML and PDF formats.

    Access to information
    Data
    Electronic information
    Health care industry
    Health care system
    Health indicators
    Health policy
    Health promotion
    Health records
    Information sharing
    Legislation
    Telehealth

  7. Legislative Summary of Bill C-53: An Act respecting the recognition of certain Métis governments in Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan, to give effect to treaties with those governments and to make consequential amendments to other Acts

    Legislative Summary
    44-1
    pv_44-1-c53-e.pdf (691.44 KB)
    Bill C-53 was introduced in the House of Commons by the Honourable Marc Miller, then Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, on 21 June 2023. It was referred for consideration to the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INAN) in the House of Commons that same day. The bill’s short title is the Recognition of Certain Métis Governments in Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan and Métis Self-Government Act. The bill follows up on commitments made in Métis self-government recognition and implementation agreements that were signed with three Métis governments in February 2023. The bill recognizes an inherent right to Métis self-government under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. It also recognizes that the Métis governments are authorized to represent their respective collectivities and to act on behalf of their communities. The bill does not give effect to any specific treaty or self-government agreement. Instead, it provides a framework for the future implementation of treaties and supplementary self-government agreements between Canada and the Métis governments. It also includes an obligation for the Government of Canada to collaborate regarding regulations and policy developments related to any subsequent treaties or agreements eventually concluded under the bill.

    This legislative summary is available as an unedited preliminary version in PDF format only. If the bill receives Royal Assent, this version will be replaced by a final version available in both HTML and PDF formats.

    Alberta
    Bills
    Crown-Indigenous modern treaties
    Indigenous policy
    Indigenous self-government
    Indigenous self-government rights
    Métis
    Ontario
    Saskatchewan

  8. Legislative Summary of Bill C-64: An Act respecting pharmacare

    Legislative Summary
    44-1
    pv_44-1-c64-e.pdf (590.04 KB)
    This bill seeks to support the implementation of national, universal pharmacare. It sets out the principles that the Minister of Health must consider when working toward this objective (accessibility, affordability, appropriate use of, and universal coverage of pharmaceutical products across Canada). The bill affirms the federal government’s commitment to maintaining long-term funding for pharmaceutical products. It authorizes the Minister to make payments to provinces and territories, under certain conditions, to cover specific prescription drugs and related products for contraception or diabetes. The bill also sets out powers and obligations of the Minister including with respect to the development of a national formulary and national bulk purchasing strategy. In addition, it requires the Minister to publish a pan-Canadian strategy on the appropriate use of prescription drugs and related products. Lastly, it provides for the establishment of a committee of experts to make recommendations on national, universal, single-payer pharmacare.

    This legislative summary is available as an unedited preliminary version in PDF format only. If the bill receives Royal Assent, this version will be replaced by a final version available in both HTML and PDF formats.

    Birth control
    Drug insurance
    Health policy
    Legislation
    Medication
    Prescription drugs
    Procurement

  9. Legislative Summary of Bill C-73: An Act respecting transparency and accountability in relation to certain commitments Canada has made under the Convention on Biological Diversity

    Legislative Summary
    44-1
    pv_44-1-c73-e.pdf (715.11 KB)
    This bill's purpose is to recognize Canada's commitment to the global targets set by the Conference of the Parties, which is the governing body of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the long-term goals and 2050 vision set out in the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). The bill also seeks to promote the federal government’s transparency and accountability of how it hopes to meet those targets, as well as to encourage collaboration in the development and implementation of such measures.

    This legislative summary is available as an unedited preliminary version in PDF format only. If the bill receives Royal Assent, this version will be replaced by a final version available in both HTML and PDF formats.

    Biodiversity
    Canada
    Government accountability
    International conventions
    United Nations

  10. Legislative Summary of Bill S-205: An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to another Act (interim release and domestic violence recognizance orders)

    Legislative Summary
    44-1
    pv_44-1-s205-e.pdf (452.75 KB)
    Senate public bill S-205 amends sections pertaining to interim release (commonly referred to as bail) and recognizance orders (commonly referred to as peace bonds) in the Criminal Code and the Youth Criminal Justice Act to provide additional protections for victims of intimate partner violence.

    This legislative summary is available as an unedited preliminary version in PDF format only. If the bill receives Royal Assent, this version will be replaced by a final version available in both HTML and PDF formats.

    Bail
    Criminal law
    Family violence
    Judicial interim release
    Legislation
    Parole
    Release from custody
    Victims