Lightening The Load – Proposed Reduction In Secured Party's Burdens When Taking Security Over Personal Property

Since the threats of new and increased U.S tariffs first emerged in the spring, the Ontario government has looked to reduce trade barriers and improve harmonization for licensing standards between provinces.

The 2026 Federal Budget (“Budget 2026”) proposes to grow the Canadian financial services sector, while introducing multiple checks on possible risks raised by new bank entrants and innovative technology. It also builds out existing policy measures to support digital innovation and combat fraud. There are various other measures that may be of interest to financial service providers in banking, insurance and payments.

Expanding a payment business into Canada requires navigating FINTRAC's Money Services Business registration framework. Understanding the regulatory requirements, compliance obligations, and practical steps for MSB registration helps international payment providers establish compliant operations in one of the world's most established financial markets.

The Bank of Canada (the “Bank”) has published two proposed guidelines relating to the accreditation process for prospective participants under the Consumer-Driven Banking Framework: the Participating entity accreditation application requirements under the Consumer-Driven Banking Act (the “Participating Entity Guideline”) and the Third-party service provider accreditation application requirements under the Consumer-Driven Banking Act (the “TPSP Guideline”).

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) published its third quarterly release of the year on September 10, 2026, noting that the targeted adjustments made to its guidance were made with a view to supporting a resilient and competitive Canadian financial system.

The Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization’s (CIRO) proposed Incorporated Approved Person model could materially change how client-facing advisors structure their businesses and receive compensation with significant impacts to sponsoring firms. The proposed rule amendments, published on July 9, 2026, would introduce a harmonized incorporated compensation option for client-facing Approved Persons across CIRO regulated dealers. Comments are due November 6, 2026.

Bill C-12 has fundamentally transformed Canada's anti-money laundering framework by introducing penalties up to forty times higher than previous levels and expanding compliance obligations across the financial sector. The legislation now requires all reporting entities to enroll with FINTRAC and maintain "reasonably designed, risk-based and effective" compliance programs, while imposing cumulative maximum penalties that can reach 3% of global revenue.

On October 13, 2026, British Columbia’s new Mortgage Services Act, S.B.C. 2022, c. 27 (the “MSA”) will come into force and effect, replacing the longstanding Mortgage Brokers Act, R.S.B.C. ch. 313 (the “MBA”). The MSA introduces a modernized regulatory framework for mortgage service providers, including expanded licensing requirements, increased disclosure obligations, enhanced enforcement tools, and significantly higher penalties for non-compliance.

This Bulletin summarizes key regulatory developments impacting the payments sector in 2025 and looks ahead to 2026.

Following a consultation period with consumer groups and the banks, the federal government has amended the Financial Consumer Protection Framework Regulations under the Bank Act (the Amendments)...

Canada has announced sweeping counter-tariffs ranging from 15% to 50% on approximately C$27.6 billion of US imports, effective September 8, 2026, in direct response to President Trump's 50% Section 338 tariffs on Canadian goods. The measures target key sectors including steel, aluminum, dairy, appliances, and electronics, while the federal government simultaneously rolls out C$7.5 billion in support for affected businesses and workers. Understanding whether products qualify as US goods under Canada's markin

WorkSafeBC is proposing significant amendments to British Columbia's Occupational Health and Safety Regulation that would fundamentally reshape how employers address workplace harassment, violence, and psychological health. The proposed changes introduce expanded definitions, new prevention program requirements, and obligations to identify and control psychosocial hazards. These amendments could require most B.C. employers to substantially revise their existing workplace policies and procedures.

Effective October 1, 2026, important changes will be implemented through Bill 11, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (No. 2), that will have immediate implications for Alberta employers.

As part of the federal government’s efforts to encourage investment in Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the new Productivity Mega Deduction on September 15, 2026 at the inaugural Canada Investment Summit.

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.

On October 16, 2026, the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) released its judgment in CNL Ltd. v. Kebaowek First Nation et al., 2026 FCA 174, which allowed the appeal of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL).

The Canadian federal government has introduced Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, a comprehensive legislative package designed to accelerate federal project approvals, strengthen transportation and trade infrastructure, and modernize labour relations in federally regulated sectors.

Canada's 2026 federal budget introduces targeted regulatory changes for charities and non-profit organizations, including elimination of the excess corporate holdings regime for private foundations and streamlined foreign charity registration. More significantly, the budget commits substantial federal spending across housing, arts, conservation, and social services—areas where charities and non-profits serve as key delivery partners.

The federal government has amended the Financial Consumer Protection Framework Regulations under the Bank Act (Canada) to limit non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees for personal deposit accounts...

More particularly, the Plaintiff had argued that the drip pricing provision in subsection 52(1.3) of the Competition Act requires “all-inclusive pricing” and forbids all forms of “fragmented or segmented pricing,” and that Ticketmaster’s partitioned price representations are thus prohibited as a criminal conduct and amount to false or misleading representations covered by the criminal misleading advertising provision in section 52