The Six Bills Granting Government Sweeping Control Over Online Speech
Link to Justice Centre report - Death by a thousand clicks: The rise of internet censorship and control in Canada - https://www.jccf.ca/reports-8/
John Carpay, president of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, breaks down six Canadian bills that collectively expand federal government authority over the internet, potentially eroding net neutrality, free speech, and privacy.
Bill C-11: Online Streaming Act
Expands the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)'s authority to regulate podcasts, videos, and websites by redefining them as "broadcasting." Allows the CRTC to prioritize "Canadian content" via algorithms, potentially violating net neutrality by influencing discoverability.
Current Status: PASSED
Passed and received Royal Assent on April 27, 2023. Fully in law. Implementation of regulatory frameworks is ongoing but delayed; Observers caution that the way these regulations are ultimately designed and enforced will shape whether the Act is experienced mainly as cultural policy or as a meaningful constraint on online expression and platform autonomy.
Bill C-18: Online News Act
Forces tech giants like Google and Meta to compensate Canadian news outlets, acting as a tax. Critics say it prompts platforms to block news, harming media diversity and access.
Status: PASSED
Became law June 22, 2023; effective December 19, 2023. Meta has removed Canadian news from its platforms, worsening journalism declines.
Bill C-63: Online Harms Act
Bill C‑63 proposed a new Online Harms Act and related amendments, including the creation of a Digital Safety Commission to hire bureaucrats to monitor content and impose fines for non-compliance.
While framed as enhancing protection from online hate and harms, civil liberties advocates argue that this bill empowers the government to enforce cabinet-mandated censorship. It also allows the Canadian Human Rights Commission to prosecute "discriminatory" non-criminal speech and order content removal. Described as the most severe bill of the six, potentially enabling broad surveillance and suppression.
Status: DEAD
Died on Order Paper in 2025 prorogation. Similar initiatives may reappear in future sessions.
Bill C-2: Strong Borders Act (reintroduced as Bill C-12)
Presented as border security measure but criticized as "Strong Surveillance Act" for warrantless searches of devices and expanded access to digital data/metadata, raising privacy concerns.
Status: C-2 DEAD; reintroduced as C-12
C-12 under parliamentary review with ongoing privacy/surveillance criticisms.
Bill C-8: An Act Respecting Cyber Security
Amends Telecommunications Act to let cabinet disconnect individuals from the internet, designate "vital" services, and strengthen oversight of telecom providers. Critics warn of disproportionate powers, expanded data access, and potential misuse without judicial oversight.
Status: Under Review
Passed first/second reading; at committee. Concerns focus on privacy vs. security balance.
Bill C-9: Combatting Hate Act
Proposes amends to the Criminal Code to broaden hate propaganda and hate crime definitions, potentially leading to arrests for social media posts similar to UK practices. These changes include new offences, higher maximum sentences where offences are motivated by hatred, and adjustments to consent requirements for prosecutions.
Supporters frame it as tightening tools against serious hate‑motivated conduct, whereas opponents argue that its definitions and enforcement structure may be too vague or expansive, heightening the risk that social media posts and other online expression could more easily become the subject of criminal investigation and prosecution.
Status: Under Review
Introduced May 2025; committee amendments approved December 2025. Controversial amendment (Liberal/Bloc-supported) removes "good faith religious expression defence" from Section 319(3)(b), previously protecting opinions based on religious texts. Raises concerns from civil rights, labor, and religious groups about free speech, religious freedom, and self-censorship.