Recently, the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree and the Honourable Sean Fraser announced the introduction of Bill C 22, An Act respecting lawful access. This important legislation, which I am proud to support, is designed to strengthen the Criminal Code and provide law enforcement agencies and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service with the modern tools they need to investigate crime, disrupt threats, and protect Canadians.
Canada is facing a rapidly evolving public safety landscape. From street crime to national security threats, criminal activity is increasingly enabled by digital, globalized, and highly sophisticated networks. In response, Canada’s new government is taking decisive action to ensure our laws keep pace with these challenges and continue to protect our communities.
At its core, Bill C 22 modernizes Canada’s lawful access framework. Lawful access refers to the legal authority, granted through court orders or warrants, that allows law enforcement and national security agencies to obtain specific information or data needed for investigations. In today’s digital environment, this often includes basic subscriber information linked to phone numbers or IP addresses.
This proposed legislation, based on extensive consultations, would bring Canadian laws in line with our major allies, including the Five Eyes, all of whom have lawful access regimes. New measures would ensure timely access to critical data, while maintaining strong privacy protections and judicial oversight.
New measures would allow authorities to confirm whether a telecommunications provider holds information related to a specific identifier, or to obtain limited subscriber information necessary to identify individuals involved in potential criminal activity. These tools are carefully designed to provide only essential information and operate within strict legal boundaries.
Bill C 22 also establishes clear requirements for electronic service providers to maintain the technical capabilities needed to respond to lawful access requests. This ensures that, when authorized by the courts, law enforcement can act quickly and effectively, particularly in urgent situations involving serious threats.
These updates are essential in addressing crimes such as human trafficking, child exploitation, money laundering, and violent extremism, which are increasingly planned and carried out online. They also improve Canada’s ability to cooperate with international partners in tackling transnational crime. Importantly, the legislation reflects evolving case law, including decisions by the Supreme Court of Canada, and is grounded in respect for privacy rights and the Charter.
Bill C 22 builds on recent action by our government to strengthen protections in the face of rising hate, introduce stricter bail laws and tougher sentences for repeat violent offenders. By modernizing our laws and equipping our agencies with the right tools we are ensuring that we are prepared to meet today’s challenges and protect Canadians now and into the future.