C-26An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts
Government bill, introduced in the House of Commons on June 14, 2022
- Status
- Became law since December 5, 2024
- Sponsor
- Dominic LeBlancLiberal
- Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs
What it does
Adds telecom security powers and creates rules to protect cyber systems used by federally regulated services tied to national security or public safety.
What it does
- Adds security of the Canadian telecommunications system as a policy objective and lets the Governor in Council and the Minister of Industry order telecom providers to do, or stop doing, things needed to secure it.
- Creates an administrative monetary penalty scheme for not following telecom security orders and regulations, and sets rules for judicial review of those decisions.
- Enacts the Critical Cyber Systems Protection Act for services and systems important to national security or public safety and within federal authority.
- Lets the Governor in Council designate a service or system and set classes of operators for it.
- Requires designated operators to create cyber security programs, reduce supply-chain and third-party risks, report cyber security incidents, and follow cyber security directions.
- Provides for information sharing and enforcement, including consequences for non-compliance.
Who it affects
- Telecommunications service providers
- Operators of federally regulated cyber systems
- Federally regulated businesses
- Federal regulators
Background
Bill C-26 was introduced in the House of Commons on 14 June 2022. It has two parts, one amending the Telecommunications Act and one enacting the Critical Cyber Systems Protection Act.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Current stage. Now here
Introduced by a cabinet minister on behalf of the government. Government bills get set time for debate, so they are the most likely to become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
2nd reading of Bill C-26, An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts
Vote 287,
Passed
321 yeato0 nay · 4 paired
Party breakdown for vote 287 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 148 0 8 Conservative Yea 113 0 2 Bloc Yea 32 0 0 NDP Yea 24 0 1 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 2 0 1 Total 321 0
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalMarco Mendicino· December 1, 2022
“All this work done over many years to address these known problems and to improve Canada's cybersecurity posture, including with 5G technology, brings us to the bill before us today. The objectives of Bill C-26 are twofold.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeRaquel Dancho· December 1, 2022
“I do know that cybersecurity is important to the Minister of Public Safety, so I will give him credit for bringing this bill forward. It should be something that is important to all government ministers of every level of government.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocKristina Michaud· December 1, 2022
“I am pleased to speak to this bill, which, I must say, was eagerly awaited by my party. The Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security had the opportunity to study the issue of cyber security.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPDaniel Blaikie· December 1, 2022
“With thanks to the chamber, I am pleased to rise today to speak to Bill C-26. Cybersecurity is a topic that is very much on the minds of many Canadians.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: At consideration in the House of Commons of amendments made by the Senate. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.