Artificial Intelligence · Canada
AI regulation in Canada (2026)
Canada shaded by its artificial intelligence status
Canada has no comprehensive, economy-wide AI law currently in force. The proposed Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA), part of Bill C-27, died on the Order Paper when Parliament was prorogued in January 2025, leaving a voluntary code for industry and a mandatory directive for federal government use as the main instruments. The Carney government has named a Minister of AI and, in its Spring Economic Update 2026, set out six pillars for a forthcoming national AI strategy that signals new privacy and online safety legislation, but no replacement AI bill has yet been introduced.
Key points
Canada's first attempt at comprehensive AI legislation, the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act under Bill C-27, died on the Order Paper when Parliament was prorogued on January 6, 2025; it would require reintroduction to advance.
In the absence of binding law, ISED's Voluntary Code of Conduct on the Responsible Development and Management of Advanced Generative AI Systems (launched September 2023) sets out commitments on accountability, safety, fairness, transparency and human oversight for signatory firms until formal regulation is in effect.
The Treasury Board Directive on Automated Decision-Making (in force since April 1, 2019, with subsequent amendments) is a mandatory risk-based instrument requiring an Algorithmic Impact Assessment for automated/AI decision systems used by most federal institutions — but it governs government use only, not the private sector.
Prime Minister Mark Carney appointed Evan Solomon as Canada's first Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation in May 2025, signaling a dedicated federal focus on AI governance and adoption.
Canada's Spring Economic Update 2026 set out six pillars for a forthcoming national AI strategy — protecting Canadians and democracy, empowering citizens, promoting adoption, building sovereign AI infrastructure, scaling Canadian champions, and trusted global partnerships — including plans for new privacy and online safety laws.
Minister Solomon has signaled an intent to introduce new AI legislation that would not simply repeat AIDA; a successor bill is widely expected to be tabled in 2026 but, as of May 2026, no replacement AI bill is before Parliament.
Timeline - major decisions & events
ISED released 'Engagements on Canada's Next AI Strategy: Summary of Inputs,' synthesizing over 11,000 public submissions and 32 Task Force reports. The themes—risk-based regulation, sovereign infrastructure, talent, and liability—will shape the AI strategy expected to launch in 2026.
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada ↗Federal, provincial and territorial privacy authorities released a joint statement on AI-generated imagery (including deepfakes) and the protection of privacy, applying existing privacy law to synthetic media. Signals continued regulator-led governance of AI in the absence of a dedicated AI statute.
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada ↗Minister Evan Solomon launched a 30-day national public engagement (Oct 1–31, 2025) and a 28-member AI Strategy Task Force to shape Canada's renewed AI strategy. It marked a pivot from the failed AIDA toward a new, adoption-focused governance framework.
Government of Canada ↗When Parliament was prorogued, Bill C-27—containing the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA), Canada's would-be first comprehensive AI law—died on the Order Paper without passing. Canada was left with no dedicated federal AI statute.
Parliament of Canada (LEGISinfo) ↗Federal, provincial and territorial privacy commissioners issued joint principles for responsible, trustworthy and privacy-protective generative AI, mapping existing privacy law (legal authority, consent, transparency) onto AI development and use.
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada ↗ISED Minister François-Philippe Champagne launched a voluntary code of conduct setting commitments on accountability, safety, fairness, transparency and human oversight for advanced generative AI. It was meant as an interim bridge until AIDA came into force.
Government of Canada ↗The Privacy Commissioner concluded the RCMP's use of Clearview AI's facial-recognition technology violated the federal Privacy Act, reinforcing limits on government use of AI biometric surveillance tools.
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada ↗A joint investigation by federal and three provincial privacy commissioners found Clearview AI's scraping of billions of facial images was unlawful mass surveillance violating Canadians' privacy. It became a landmark application of privacy law to AI systems.
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada ↗The federal government's first binding AI governance instrument required departments using automated decision systems to conduct Algorithmic Impact Assessments and meet transparency, accountability and fairness requirements. It remains Canada's main operative AI rulebook for government.
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat ↗Budget 2017 committed $125 million to the world's first national AI strategy, funding research institutes (Amii, Mila, Vector) and talent. It established Canada's research-and-talent-first posture that still frames its 'enable innovation' approach to regulation.
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada ↗Canada - other topics
Last verified 5/23/2026 · Orientation, not legal advice - verify against the primary sources linked above. Explore the full world map →