Expert Analysis

Developments in Canadian telecommunications regulation in 2025, implications for 2026

By Leslie J. Milton and Christopher Ferguson ( April 10, 2026, 8:43 AM EDT) -- There were a number of significant developments in Canadian telecommunications regulation in 2025. Key developments included: the introduction and retraction of lawful access legislation; the reintroduction of cybersecurity legislation; judicial decisions on the jurisdiction of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC or Commission) and government liability in tort; and, regulatory decisions on direct-to-cell, wholesale broadband, broadband subsidy requirements and outage reporting. Decisions are also pending on a number of CRTC proceedings on retail consumer wireless and internet service marketing obligations....