Various digital policy, telecom bills stuck in Parliament as MPs break for summer

As the House of Commons rises for its summer break, The Wire Report has compiled updates on where each digital policy and telecom bill has landed as Parliament hits pause. MPs aren’t scheduled to return to the nation’s capital until September. Until then, here’s everything you need to know: Bill C-8: An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts The government’s cybersecurity bill will give Ottawa more powers over the telecommunications system and allow cabinet to order individual service providers to make cybersecurity or infrastructure upgrades. The bill would also allow the government to move forward with its promise to ban Huawei and ZTE from Canada’s 5G networks. Bill C-8 received Royal Assent on Monday, but regulations required for the full implementation of the bill aren’t expected for another 12-18 months. Bill C-14: Bail and Sentencing Reform Act Bill C-14 makes various amendments to the Criminal Code, including adding an "aggravating circumstance” when an offence interferes with the access or operations of an essential service. For telecom providers, this means stricter laws to help combat copper theft. The bill got the official seal on Monday, and changes will come into force 30 days following Royal Assent. Bill C-16: Protecting Victims Act The Protecting Victims Act provisions include protecting Canadians online by making changes to the Mandatory Reporting Act, adding sexualized deepfakes to definition of non-consensual intimate images, and creating new offences prohibiting threats to distribute intimate images or child sexual abuse material. Bill C-16 is awaiting third reading in the Senate. The last scheduled sitting day in the red chamber is June 23, but Senators could vote to rise earlier. Bill C-28: Canadian Space Launch Act Bill C-28 would give Canada sovereign space launch capabilities, allowing domestic satellite companies to launch from home soil, rather than relying on foreign launch sites. Transport Minister and Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon (Gatineau, Que.) hopes the bill will keep investments in the country and protect critical infrastructure decisions. The bill is currently in second reading in the House of Commons, but some industry pros think Canada’s launch capabilities are still years away. Bill C-34: Safe Social Media Act The bill is the federal government’s third attempt to pass online harms legislation, but the first time it has had a majority to help it do so. The bill would establish a moratorium on social media for children under 16, impose new safety requirements on online platforms and chatbots, and create an independent regulator to enforce the law. The bill has completed first reading in the House of Commons and is expected to be a priority for the Liberal government. However, the bill won’t be able to be enforced until the regulator is established – about 18 months following Royal Assent. Bill C-36: Protecting Privacy and Consumer Data Act Tabled on Monday as an update to the country’s consumer privacy legislation, Bill C-36 recognizes privacy as a fundamental right, provides Canadians with the right to deletion, and requires meaningful consent for the use of personal information. It also outlines provisions to protect children and requirements to conduct privacy assessments. The bill has completed first reading in the House of Commons. It will be enforced by the same regulator established in the Safe Social Media Act, and will not come into force until that regulator is up and running. Bill C-268: Spectrum Policy Framework for Canada Act A private member’s bill tabled by Liberal MP Marianne Dandurand (Compton–Stanstead, Que.), Bill C-268 aims to update Canada’s wireless framework and improve cellular connectivity in rural areas. It would also require the government to review the country’s spectrum framework every five years. Bill C-268 is in second reading in the House of Commons. Dandurand has garnered near-unanimous support for her bill, getting the thumbs-up from her own party, and support extending across the aisle with the Conservatives, Bloc Québécois, and the NDP prepared to vote ‘yea’ on the bill. Dandurand hopes C-268 will pass by Christmas. Bill C-277: Regulating the Online Use of Deepfakes Act Liberal MP Michael Coteau’s private member’s bill would look to protect Canadians by requiring online operators to clearly label deepfakes shared on their platforms, prevent users from sharing deepfakes that would cause “significant harm,” and remove any harmful deepfakes from their sites. Bill C-277 has completed first reading in the House of Commons. Given similar provisions have been introduced in Bills C-34 and C-36, it’s unclear if Parliament will move forward with the bill. mcollins@thewirereport.ca

Various digital policy, telecom bills stuck in Parliament as MPs break for summer

Regulatory |
By Maria Collins
|June 19, 2026

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Various digital policy, telecom bills stuck in Parliament as MPs break for summer

Regulatory | By Maria Collins |June 19, 2026

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