Business
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March 27, 2026
Amendments to the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act receive royal assent
On March 27, the federal government announced that amendments to the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act (HPTA) had received royal assent. According to a government release, these amendments are “key to modernizing and strengthening biosecurity oversight for scientific research and maintaining Canada’s ability to rapidly respond to emerging threats.”
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March 27, 2026
B.C. releases new policy paper proposing amendments to Heritage Conservation Act
The Government of British Columbia has issued a new technical policy paper outlining “key amendments to earlier Heritage Conservation Act (HCA) proposals to guide continued engagement as the ministry works to modernize heritage conservation in B.C.”
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March 27, 2026
Federal Budget Implementation Act receives royal assent
Bill C-15, the Budget Implementation Act, 2025, No. 1, received royal assent on March 27. According to a government release, this “key piece of legislation will help the government deliver on its plan to build one united economy, empower Canadians to get ahead, and protect our country and sovereignty — today, and for generations to come.”
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March 27, 2026
Financial Consumer Agency of Canada releases report on AI impacts on financial industry
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) has released a report highlighting AI issues related to “consumer financial well-being and protection, security and cybersecurity, financial crime and financial stability.”
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March 27, 2026
Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act receives royal assent
On March 26, the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act (Bill C-12), received royal assent. According to a government release, the Act strengthens Canada’s immigration and asylum systems, providing law enforcement agencies with “more tools to keep our borders secure, combat transnational organized crime, illegal fentanyl and illicit financing.”
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March 27, 2026
U.S. decision to ban foreign aid is leading to public health emergency, experts say
The U.S. government’s decision to halt most of its foreign aid and development work constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under international law, according to Canadian and global experts in medical journal BMJ.
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March 27, 2026
Auditor General report on study permits highlights IRCC failures
Policymakers should heed the alarm bells raised by Canada’s Auditor General in a new report on the International Student Program reforms. The 2026 Auditor General’s report, International Student Program Reforms, reveals that recent efforts to cap study permits curbed international student inflows but also triggered unintended consequences and exposed significant policy gaps. These findings underscore an urgent need for smarter policy design, better federal-provincial coordination and stronger program integrity measures to ensure that efforts to manage student immigration do not inadvertently undermine Canada’s broader immigration goals.
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March 25, 2026
Ottawa & provinces roll out disparate views on the ‘notwithstanding’ clause at Supreme Court
Before the Supreme Court of Canada reserved its impending historic decision on March 26, the top court heard starkly different interpretations this week about the nature and operation of the Charter’s s. 33 “notwithstanding” clause.
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March 26, 2026
Ottawa introduces bill targeting foreign interference, deepfakes and long ballots
The Liberal government has introduced legislation aimed at protecting federal elections from foreign interference, cracking down on “long ballot” protest tactics and curbing election-related misinformation, according to a March 26 release.
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March 26, 2026
Court allows appeal of conspiracy claim in class action against Pizza Nova
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice Divisional Court has allowed Pizza Nova franchisees’ appeal on the certification of a conspiracy claim in a class action concerning delivery driver classification.