What's On Our Radar In 2025: Canada's Privacy And AI Landscape

Canada's proposed federal reform of existing privacy law and proposed artificial intelligence ("AI") law has been paused in light of the latest prorogation of Parliament. When Parliament resumes in the spring 2025, critical pieces of tabled legislation could be abandoned, including Bill C-27, which has been long awaited by Canada's technology sector. Bill C-27 was first introduced in 2021, and was set to replace the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act ("PIPEDA"), Canada's current federal private-sector privacy legislation, with the new Artificial Intelligence and Data Act ("AIDA") and Consumer Privacy Protection Act. Considering the recent prorogation, any anticipated legislative reform from Bill C-27 as drafted is now in legislative limbo. The fate of Bill C-27 is uncertain, disappointingly leaving Canada without any federally regulated AI legislation for the foreseeable future.