Canada
Canada's proposed federal AI law, the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA), died when Bill C-27 lapsed on the January 2025 prorogation of Parliament, and no successor AI act has been introduced. On June 4, 2026 the Prime Minister launched AI for All, a five-year national AI strategy that promises new legislation, an online safety regime covering chatbots, and an expanded Canadian AI Safety Institute, and on September 27 the AI minister said deployment needs regulation but gave no bill or timeline. Two government bills touch AI: Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act, would impose safety duties on AI chatbot services, and Bill C-36 would replace the federal private-sector privacy law and require organizations to explain automated decisions that significantly affect people. For now, AI in Canada is governed by existing privacy law, a voluntary code of conduct for advanced generative systems, and provincial measures such as Ontario's public-sector Bill 194, Manitoba's public-sector AI governance act (passed in 2026 but not yet proclaimed), and Quebec's Law 25.
Key points
- AIDA was part of Bill C-27 and never received Royal Assent; it lapsed on prorogation in January 2025.
- No successor AI bill has been introduced. Bill C-34 (June 10, 2026) would require regulated AI chatbot services to mitigate the risk of harmful content and be transparent about crisis escalation, and Bill C-36 (June 15, 2026) would add transparency duties for automated decision systems to a new federal privacy law; both sit at second reading.
- A voluntary code of conduct governs advanced generative AI in the interim.
- Provinces are active: Ontario Bill 194 covers public-sector AI; Manitoba's Public Sector Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Governance Act received Royal Assent on June 1, 2026 and awaits proclamation; Quebec Law 25 drives privacy obligations that reach AI indirectly.
- The Protecting Victims Act (Bill C-16), in force since July 18, 2026, extends the Criminal Code's intimate-image offense to AI-made depictions that are likely to be mistaken for a real recording and adds an offense of threatening to distribute one.
- AI for All, the national AI strategy launched June 4, 2026, sets a five-year agenda of new legislation, investment, and programs, including an online safety regime for social media and chatbots and an expanded Canadian AI Safety Institute.
- Bill C-25, the Strong and Free Elections Act (S.C. 2026, c. 20), added a Canada Elections Act offense of creating or publishing, with intent to mislead, a misleading image, voice imitation, or audio recording of a candidate, party leader, or election official, which reaches deepfakes; parody and satire are exempt.
Laws and instruments
Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA)
Would have regulated 'high-impact' AI systems with risk-assessment, bias-mitigation, and monitoring duties. Died when Parliament was prorogued.
Voluntary Code of Conduct on Advanced Generative AI
A signatory-based code setting expectations for safety, transparency, and accountability among advanced generative-AI developers while binding legislation is absent.
Protecting Victims Act (Bill C-16): AI intimate images
Amends section 162.1 of the Criminal Code so that an intimate image includes a visual representation made by electronic or mechanical means, including AI software, that shows an identifiable person as nude or engaged in sexual activity and is likely to be mistaken for a recording of that person, and adds an offense of threatening to distribute an intimate image. The provisions came into force 30 days after Royal Assent.
Bill C-36 (Protecting Privacy and Consumer Data Act)
Would replace the federal private-sector privacy law with a new Protecting Privacy and Consumer Data Act. Organizations using automated decision systems that have legal or similarly significant effects would have to publish a general account of that use, explain a decision on request, and let the person ask an employee to review it. It is a privacy bill; no successor to AIDA has been introduced.
Bill C-34 (Safe Social Media Act): AI chatbot services
Would enact a Digital Safety Act and create a Digital Safety Commission of Canada. Operators of regulated AI chatbot services, defined to include systems that can simulate a sustained human-like relationship such as friendship or therapeutic support, would have a duty to act responsibly: mitigate the risk that the chatbot communicates harmful content, be transparent about when they escalate crisis situations, and address harmful bot behavior. Social media services would have to label synthetic content. The commission could audit compliance, issue compliance orders, and impose penalties.
Manitoba: Public Sector Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Governance Act
Lets the province require public sector entities, including the government, its agencies, health authorities, universities, school divisions, and municipalities, to comply with regulations governing their use of AI systems and their cybersecurity. Passed third reading on May 5, 2026 and received Royal Assent on June 1, 2026. It comes into force on a day fixed by proclamation, and it had not been proclaimed and no regulations had been made as of October 16, 2026.
Timeline
- 2022AIDA introduced within Bill C-27.
- January 6, 2025Parliament prorogued; AIDA lapses.
- 2025-2026No federal replacement enacted; provinces continue to legislate.
- June 1, 2026Manitoba's Public Sector Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Governance Act receives Royal Assent; it awaits proclamation.
- June 4, 2026The Prime Minister launches AI for All, a five-year national AI strategy promising new legislation.
- June 10, 2026Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act, is tabled with safety duties for AI chatbot services.
- June 15, 2026Bill C-36 tabled: a new private-sector privacy law with automated-decision transparency duties.
- June 18, 2026The Protecting Victims Act (C-16) receives Royal Assent, extending the intimate-image offense to AI deepfakes from July 18, 2026.
- September 23, 2026The federal consultation on AI transparency, open since July 23, closes.
- September 27, 2026The AI minister says AI deployment needs regulation, citing a completed consultation on AI transparency, but names no bill or timeline.
Who it applies to
No comprehensive federal scope in force. Provincial and privacy law applies, plus the voluntary code for signatories.
Penalties
No federal AI-specific penalties for developers or deployers. Privacy regulators and provincial statutes provide the enforcement backstop. Since July 18, 2026 the Criminal Code's intimate-image offense covers AI-made depictions of identifiable people. Bill C-34 would let a new Digital Safety Commission penalize chatbot and social media services that fail to comply.
Common questions
Does Canada have a comprehensive AI law?
What are the penalties for AI violations in Canada?
Who does AI regulation in Canada apply to?
Artificial Intelligence Regulations, "AI Regulation in Canada," reviewed October 26, 2026, https://artificialintelligenceregulations.com/jurisdictions/canada.html.
Entries state the position as of the review date and link to the primary text for verification.