Canada: Compliance

Foreign companies operating in Canada face a rapidly evolving ESG compliance landscape that extends far beyond voluntary commitments. From mandatory Modern Slavery Act reporting with personal liability for directors to climate risk disclosure requirements for financial institutions, Canadian ESG obligations now carry significant penalties and enforcement mechanisms. Understanding which reporting frameworks apply to your organization and when implementation deadlines have already passed is critical to avoidi

Global Affairs Canada has issued comprehensive guidance on Canada's "deemed ownership" rules under sanctions law, clarifying when companies not directly designated may still be subject to sanctions restrictions due to ownership or control by designated persons. The guidance addresses three distinct control tests—including ownership thresholds, board control, and de facto influence—and provides practical examples of how these provisions apply to complex corporate structures and proxy arrangements

Foreign companies entering Canada often assume their existing privacy programs designed for GDPR or CCPA compliance can simply extend to Canadian operations, but Canada's legal requirements demand targeted modifications. This comprehensive guide examines Canada's private sector privacy legislation, breach reporting obligations, AI governance expectations, and anti-spam regulations that businesses must navigate before launching in the Canadian market.

New draft regulations clarify which federally regulated private businesses must comply with French language obligations under the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act.

Canada's broadcasting, telecommunications, and satellite industries face significant regulatory changes this fall as Parliament advances key legislation. From the CRTC's implementation of the Online Streaming Act amid U.S. trade tensions to new lawful access requirements for service providers and the establishment of Canada's first space launch framework, these developments will reshape operational requirements across the communications sector.

In September 2026, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance (the Committee) released its recommendations for the 2026 Federal Budget. While these recommendations do not form part of the Budget itself, they provide insight into current political policy priorities and proposals that may be reflected in future legislative and fiscal initiatives. In this article, we highlight several recommendations of particular relevance to charities and not-for-profit organizations, with a specific focus on the proposed social sector fund.

Canada's language laws create distinct obligations for businesses operating across the country, with Quebec's Charter of the French Language imposing comprehensive requirements on commercial operations, workplace communications, and consumer interactions.

Les entreprises au Canada doivent naviguer un paysage complexe de lois fédérales et provinciales régissant la collecte, l'utilisation et la communication de renseignements personnels.

The Canada Revenue Agency has quietly shifted its administrative position on cannabis trim classification, moving from treating it as lower-taxed non-flowering material to higher-taxed flowering material. This policy change is now resulting in significant audit assessments for cannabis producers who relied on CRA's previous guidance, potentially creating substantial additional duty exposure across the industry.