This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news concerning ICT, cloud computing, digital infrastructure, social media platforms, digital privacy, AI, cybersecurity, blockchain, Web3 and cryptocurrencies. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Want to track other GR news in adjacent industries? Don't miss this week's updates in Finance and Defence. Also consider subscribing to our ICT & Cybersecurity - Washington edition covering critical GR news south of the border.

Dates: 2026-03-22 to 2026-03-28

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🇨🇦 Federal Government News
• 🗺️ Provincial Government News
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

Federal Government News

Ottawa Invests $3.6 Million to Advance Cybersecurity for Defence Sector in Outaouais

The Government of Canada announced a non-repayable contribution of $3.6 million to the Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO) to enhance cybersecurity within the defence supply chain. Funding will establish a laboratory at UQO adhering to defence standards, equipped to simulate cyberattacks such as industrial espionage, ransomware, and operations disruptions targeting businesses tied to the defence sector. The project’s total investment, which includes $900,000 from UQO, aims to create an experimental platform for cyber-resilience, focusing on interconnected transportation systems. The new facility will support development, testing, and transfer of cybersecurity technologies, leveraging the university’s partnerships with the Institut national de recherche scientifique (INRS) and the Multidisciplinary Institute for Cybersecurity and Cyber Resilience (IMC2). This investment is part of the Regional Defence Investment Initiative for Quebec under CED’s Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program, intended to strengthen both regional and national cybersecurity capacities.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canadian Government Introduces Bill C-25 to Strengthen Electoral Integrity and Counter AI-Driven Threats

On March 26, Minister of Transport Steven MacKinnon announced Bill C-25, the Strong and Free Elections Act, incorporating measures to address recommendations from multiple electoral oversight entities, including the Chief Electoral Officer and the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference. The bill prohibits deepfake technologies used to mislead voters, reinforces protections against unlawful influence predating official writ periods, blocks foreign funding channels, and sets privacy policy and breach disclosure standards for federal political parties. The bill increases the Commissioner of Canada Elections' enforcement capabilities and corresponding monetary penalties. An investment of $31.5 million will go towards Global Affairs Canada's Rapid Response Mechanism to counter information manipulation. A new Cabinet Directive will coordinate government response and reporting on election threats, including formalizing external panel appointments. These measures facilitate rapid adaptation to digital threats, including AI-enabled misinformation in electoral processes.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Senate Finance Committee Reviews Bill C-15 with PIPEDA Amendments and Data Mobility Right

On March 24, the Senate Committee on National Finance studied Bill C-15, focusing on federal budget implementation. Notably, Samir Chhabra from ISED introduced amendments to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), establishing a 'data mobility' right designed to provide Canadian consumers greater control over their information and promote sectoral competition. The RCMP described modifications to information sharing authorities, suggesting possible delays in benefits processing. Senators considered the impact of these measures on data portability, organizational responsibility, and consumer privacy. The committee carried the bill with appended observations, aiming to table its report in the Senate by March 25.

Sources: senparlvu.parl.gc.ca

Legislation on Border and Immigration Security Receives Royal Assent

The Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act (Bill C-12) received Royal Assent on March 27. The legislation modernizes asylum processing, introduces new ineligibility rules to manage claim surges, and facilitates improved information management for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. It authorizes the Canada Border Services Agency to inspect outbound goods for security purposes and expands the RCMP’s capacity to share data on registered sex offenders. The new act augments digital surveillance and intelligence-sharing tools at the border, strengthens anti-money laundering enforcement, and targets transnational organized crime and illicit fentanyl through enhanced scheduling of controlled substance precursors and collaboration among agencies. The law introduces increased penalties for financial crimes, with specific provisions to support advanced digital and AI-enabled threat detection.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Financial Crime Conference Concludes Amid Creation of New National Financial Crimes Agency

More than 1,100 investigators and experts concluded the fifth Spin Cycle Conference in Ottawa, examining crypto- and AI-enabled financial crime, money laundering, and civil forfeiture. Participants received updates on Bill C-22, the Act to Keep Canadians Safe, which grants police and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service additional powers to investigate money laundering in the technology and digital services sectors. Budget 2025 commits $1.7 billion to increase RCMP capacity on financial crimes, and establishes the Financial Crimes Agency as the central body for complex financial crime investigations. The government is increasing civil and criminal penalties related to anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing by factors of forty and ten, respectively, while mandating FINTRAC tactical intelligence mobilization and prioritizing a National Anti-Fraud Strategy.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Senate Committee Examines AI Regulation, Deepfakes and Sector Harms in ICT

On March 24, the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications heard from experts Viet Vu, Dana Cramer, and Wing Hin Anson Ho on the impacts of artificial intelligence in the ICT sector. Vu argued AI will reshape, but not abruptly reduce, employment, specifically impacting creative industries. Witnesses called current platform labelling for deepfakes inadequate, advocating for a more comprehensive legislative response, including a potential 'duty of care.' Cramer pressed for stronger coordination among regulators and AI literacy campaigns, while Ho warned that AI may match human performance in economic tasks within two decades. Senators addressed risks tied to privacy, consent, and the challenge of regulatory harmonization as AI capabilities rapidly expand in the ICT landscape.

Sources: senparlvu.parl.gc.ca

FCAC Releases Lessons from Financial Industry Forum on AI in Financial Services

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, alongside other regulators, published the final report from the second Financial Industry Forum on Artificial Intelligence. Covering events from May to November 2025, the report details governance frameworks for responsible AI adoption in Canada’s financial sector. Forum outputs note AI adoption should keep consumer protection as a principal criterion, including ensuring security and transparency in AI-driven financial outcomes. Points of discussion included the intersection of security, fraud prevention, competition, and consumer financial well-being; sector participants were encouraged to support increased AI literacy among users. Over 170 ecosystem stakeholders—banks, regulators, consumer groups, and researchers—contributed to findings relevant for sector compliance and technology practice.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Federal Funding for Innovation in Vehicle Anti-Theft Technologies

Transport Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada are funding three Canadian firms—Carmodity Ltd., Steel Mirror Inc., and Audesse Automotive Inc.—with $1.6 million through the Vehicle Theft Prevention challenge under Innovative Solutions Canada. Technologies being developed include miniaturized systems capable of disabling vehicles upon theft detection, AI-augmented steering wheel locks that monitor for tampering, and smart automotive switches interfacing with driver smartphones. These projects, now transitioning towards prototype phase, reflect continued focus on the role of advanced electronics, cybersecurity, and AI in national infrastructure and supply chain security.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Competition Bureau Targets AI-Based Government Impersonation Scams

The Competition Bureau of Canada reported a notable rise in AI-enabled fraud, specifically deepfake usage in creating fake government websites and impersonation of officials such as the Prime Minister. In response to the increased number of complaints documented over the past year, the Bureau offered expertise and consultation to media regarding detection and avoidance. The outreach is part of the Bureau’s participation in Fraud Prevention Month, reflecting new scam vectors involving generative AI and identity theft, with implications for both public and private sector ICT operations and government trust frameworks.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Senate Finance Committee Reviews Supplementary Defence and Cybersecurity Appropriations

The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met March 25 to discuss the 2025-26 Supplementary Estimates (C), which include $1 billion for Canada Post and a new $1 billion Treasury Board central vote targeted at security and defence. The Department of National Defence received an increase of $1.05 billion, supporting new policy and NATO commitments. The Coast Guard requested $129 million for security enhancements and, while remaining a civilian organization, conducts expanded security functions. The committee also discussed investments in the Capital Investment Fund, munitions supply, and defence-related cybersecurity, while debating the accounting of non-defence spending towards NATO objectives.

Sources: senparlvu.parl.gc.ca

Canada and India Advance Dialogue on Digital Trade and Bilateral Economic Agreement

On March 28, Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu and India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, met to further negotiations on a Canada–India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The session, held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, welcomed the conclusion of a first negotiation round and reaffirmed regular dialogue on economic issues, including priorities at the World Trade Organization’s upcoming Ministerial Conference. Both sides showed support for renewal of the e-commerce moratorium—a digital policy seen as critical for cross-border ICT, telecom, and AI-driven services. Minister Goyal’s planned visit to Canada and a joint Trade and Investment Forum are expected to focus on technological collaboration and ICT innovation.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Provincial Government News

British Columbia Launches Marine and Coastal Tech Testbed

British Columbia's Integrated Marketplace program introduced a seventh testbed focused on marine and coastal technology, supporting tech companies in vessel optimization, environmental monitoring, and adoption of robotics and AI-driven tools for both commercial and dual-use applications.

Sources: news.gov.bc.ca

Quebec Begins Public Consultation on Biometrics in Online Services

Quebec’s government initiated public and group consultations on the use of biometrics for online service identity verification. The process, running from March 23 through April 19, aims to gather input on population awareness, expectations, and concerns.

Sources: www.quebec.ca

Alberta Expands Electronic Monitoring Program for Victims’ Safety

Alberta is expanding its electronic monitoring program for repeat offenders, allocating $4.1 million over three years to introduce real-time victim alerts when court-ordered boundaries are breached and to bolster GPS supervision throughout the province.

Sources: www.alberta.ca

Alberta Invests $247 Million in Career and Employment Services

Pending budget approval, Alberta is prepared to invest $247 million in career and employment programs for 2026, including funding for digital and in-person upskilling, simulated worksites, and supports for marginalized job-seekers.

Sources: www.alberta.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• Privacy commissioner says NS Power needs to add safeguards after 2025 cyberattack: Privacy and security protocols in the energy sector examined.
• Poland faced a surge in cyberattacks in 2025, including a major assault on the energy sector: International review of cyberattack trends and energy sector targets.
• In the next frontier of technology, digital trust is the new foundation: Perspectives on the emerging role of digital trust networks.
• Advanced technology: Developments in advanced tech and their industrial applications.
• The Trust Wall: Why AI’s Next Billion Users Will Come Through Trust Networks: Analysis on trust mechanisms in AI adoption.
• Canadians Aren’t Sold on AI Data Centres. At least, not yet.: A report on Canadian sentiment regarding AI data infrastructure expansion.

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