The federal government is preparing to introduce two significant pieces of legislation this week as Parliament enters the final days of its spring sitting, focusing on privacy reform and access to clean drinking water for First Nations communities.
The Liberal government has given notice that it will table long-awaited legislation to modernize Canada’s private-sector privacy framework, marking its third attempt to overhaul the country’s privacy laws after previous efforts in 2020 and 2023 failed to become law.
The proposed legislation is expected to strengthen protections for children’s personal information and introduce measures aimed at preventing companies from using Canadians’ data for surveillance pricing practices. The bill would update Canada’s existing privacy regime under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), which governs how private-sector organizations collect, use and disclose personal information.
The move comes as governments around the world grapple with growing concerns over data privacy, artificial intelligence and the collection of personal information by digital platforms.
The government has also signalled plans to introduce legislation focused on water and wastewater services on First Nations lands. The bill would establish a framework governing water, source water protection, drinking water, wastewater systems and related infrastructure in Indigenous communities.
The proposed legislation follows a similar bill introduced in 2023 that did not advance before Parliament was dissolved for the federal election.
Ensuring reliable access to clean drinking water has been a longstanding issue for many First Nations communities across Canada, with successive federal governments facing pressure to improve water infrastructure and address boil-water advisories.
The two bills represent some of the government’s final legislative priorities before MPs adjourn for the summer, as Ottawa seeks to advance reforms in both digital privacy and Indigenous infrastructure.
