Report by Mehboob Ali Shaikh
Canada – From street crime to national security threats, criminal activity is increasingly being enabled by digital, globalized, and sophisticated crime networks. To keep Canadians safe, the Government of Canada is strengthening the Criminal Code and providing law enforcement agencies and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) with modern tools to disrupt crime, investigate serious threats, and protect communities.
As announced on March 12, 2026, by Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree and Justice Minister and Attorney General Sean Fraser, new measures have been introduced through the Keeping Canadians Safe Act (Bill C-22). The announcement was reiterated by Ruby Sahota, Secretary of State (Combatting Crime), alongside Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah.
The proposed legislation is the result of extensive consultations and aims to align Canadian laws with those of key international allies, including members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, all of whom have established lawful access regimes. In an increasingly complex and dangerous digital environment, the tools in Bill C-22 are intended to strengthen Canada’s national safety and security.
Addressing Digital and Organized Crime
While new technologies have made communication faster and more accessible, they have also created opportunities for criminal activity. Organized crime groups and individuals posing threats to Canada’s security increasingly use digital platforms to commit serious offences such as child sexual exploitation, extortion, human trafficking, and money laundering.
Authorities say the digital environment can also be used to plan and coordinate threats including terrorist activities, violent extremism, and foreign interference.
Strengthening Investigative Powers
The Keeping Canadians Safe Act aims to ensure Canadian laws keep pace with the rapidly evolving digital landscape. If passed, the legislation would allow law enforcement and CSIS to investigate threats more efficiently, act quickly in urgent situations, and obtain essential information earlier in investigations—often a critical step in securing production orders or judicial warrants.
The proposed measures would also strengthen cooperation with international partners to respond to serious transnational crimes and security threats.
The legislation builds on recent actions by the federal government to address rising hate crimes, implement stricter bail laws and tougher penalties for repeat violent offenders, strengthen border security to combat human trafficking and illegal drugs, and introduce measures aimed at preventing intimate partner violence and protecting children from exploitation.
Leaders Voice Support
Ruby Sahota, Secretary of State for Combatting Crime, said it is vital that Canada’s laws evolve alongside modern technology.
As the world’s technological and digital landscape continues to evolve, it is critical now more than ever that our laws keep pace with this new reality,” Sahota said. “This proposed legislation will ensure law enforcement agencies, including Peel Regional Police, have the investigative tools they need to combat increasingly sophisticated criminal networks while maintaining robust safeguards and Charter protections.
Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah welcomed the changes, emphasizing the urgency of modern investigative tools.
Criminals behind transnational and organized crime—including extortion, cyber-enabled child exploitation, and human trafficking—have far outpaced existing lawful access authorities, Duraiappah said. Modern and accessible tools will help officers investigate these crimes more effectively and faster. Time is of the essence.
Municipal Leaders Support the Bill
Local leaders across the Greater Toronto Area also expressed support for the proposed legislation.
Representatives of Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish said residents deserve to feel safe and protected from organized criminal groups involved in violent home invasions, intimidation, and extortion.
For years I have been raising the need to modernize Canada’s laws so police can keep pace with organized crime networks exploiting digital technologies,
Councillor Brampton Gurpartap Singh Toor
and the representatives of Mayor Patrick Brown also backed the proposal, saying modern investigative tools are essential for combating extortion and organized crime.
“These measures are necessary for public safety and effective policing in the face of how criminals are using modern technology,” Toor said.
Caledon Mayor Annette Groves echoed similar concerns, noting that technology has fundamentally changed how criminal organizations operate.
“Bill C-22 would strengthen our laws and ensure law enforcement and CSIS have the necessary tools to investigate threats quickly, disrupt organized crime, and prevent further harm,” Groves said.
Looking Ahead
The federal government says Bill C-22 represents another step toward strengthening Canada’s public safety framework while respecting the rights and freedoms protected under the Canadian Charter.
If passed, the legislation would enhance the ability of law enforcement and intelligence agencies to detect, deter, and respond to modern criminal threats while ensuring Canadians remain protected in an increasingly digital world.
