CANADA
National legislation last modified in December 2021
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Sub-pillar Framework for consumer protection applicable to online commerce
Federal consumer protection legislation
While specific complaints for the trade of goods and services fall under provincial and territorial jurisdiction, Canada maintains a national consumer protection legislative framework, which encompasses laws surrounding competition, product and user safety, environmental concerns, and financial regulations.
Coverage Horizontal
CANADA
Reported in 2021
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Sub-pillar Threshold for ‘De Minimis’ rule
Low de minimis threshold
It is reported that the de minimis threshold, that is the minimum value of goods below which customs do not charge duties, is USD 15, below the 200 USD threshold recommended by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
Coverage Horizontal
CANADA
Since 2000
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Sub-pillar Restrictions on domain names
Canadian Presence Requirements for Registrants
Parties wishing to obtain a ".ca" domain name will need to satisfy the Canadian Internet Registration Authority's Canadian Presence Requirements, which reserves ".ca" domain names for Canadian citizens, permanent residents, companies incorporated in a Canadian jurisdiction, partnerships registered in Canada, and entities with Canadian trademarks. Domain names can be licensed to by the registrant either through a stand-alone licence agreement or as part of a larger transaction.
Coverage Horizontal
CANADA
Since 1988
Pillar Technical standards applied to ICT goods and online services |
Sub-pillar Self-certification for product safety
Canada Radio Act
Industry Canada (IC) establishes the compliance regulations for radios, digital devices and other unintentional radiators. Certification is required according to some typical emissions standards such as ICES-003 (ITE) and ICES-001 (ISM equipment). Some applications of digital devices are exempted from IC technical standards. In many cases, such exempted equipment falls under the jurisdiction of other authorities. Results from accredited laboratories in countries with which Canada has a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) are accepted. Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) accepted within the telecommunications sector since 2002.
Coverage Digital devices
CANADA
Since 1985
Pillar Technical standards applied to ICT goods and online services |
Sub-pillar Self-certification for product safety
Radiocommunication Act and Radiocommunication Regulations
The Radiocommunication Act of 1985 requires a Technical Acceptance Certificate (TAC) for broadcasting transmitters, portable radio transmitters, digital scanner receivers, cellular phones, remote car alarms and starters, garage door openers, and wireless computer links. Testing in an accredited laboratory is obligatory. Recertification is required for any product changes, and demands the involvement of local authorities.
Coverage Broadcasting transmitters, portable radio transmitters, digital scanner receivers, cellular phones, wireless computer links
CANADA
Last reported in 2021
Pillar Quantitative trade restrictions for ICT goods and online services |
Sub-pillar Local content requirements (LCRs) on ICT goods for the commercial market
Policies of the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), including the Wholescale Code
It has been reported that the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) imposes quotas that determine both the minimum Canadian programming expenditure (CPE) and the minimum amount of Canadian programming that licensed Canadian broadcasters must carry (Exhibition Quota). Regarding the latter, the current primetime (6-11pm) Exhibition Quota rests at 50 percent Canadian content.
For cable television and direct-to-home broadcast services, more than 50% of the channels received by subscribers must be Canadian channels. Non-Canadian channels must be pre-approved (“listed”) by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). Upon an appeal from a Canadian licensee, the CRTC may determine that a non-Canadian channel competes with a Canadian pay or specialty service, in which case the CRTC may either remove the non-Canadian channel from the list (thereby revoking approval to supply the service) or shift the channel into a less competitive location on the channel dial. Alternatively, non-Canadian channels can become Canadian by ceding majority equity control to a Canadian partner, as some U.S. channels have done.
The CRTC also requires that 35 percent of popular musical selections broadcast on the radio qualify as “Canadian” under a Canadian Government-determined point system.
The CRTC’s Wholesale Code entered into force in January 2016 and governs certain commercial arrangements between distributors (e.g., cable companies) and programmers (e.g., channel owners). The Code is binding for vertically integrated suppliers in Canada (i.e., suppliers that own infrastructure and programming) and applies as guidelines to foreign programming suppliers (who by definition cannot be vertically integrated, as foreign suppliers are prohibited from owning video distribution infrastructure in Canada).
For cable television and direct-to-home broadcast services, more than 50% of the channels received by subscribers must be Canadian channels. Non-Canadian channels must be pre-approved (“listed”) by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). Upon an appeal from a Canadian licensee, the CRTC may determine that a non-Canadian channel competes with a Canadian pay or specialty service, in which case the CRTC may either remove the non-Canadian channel from the list (thereby revoking approval to supply the service) or shift the channel into a less competitive location on the channel dial. Alternatively, non-Canadian channels can become Canadian by ceding majority equity control to a Canadian partner, as some U.S. channels have done.
The CRTC also requires that 35 percent of popular musical selections broadcast on the radio qualify as “Canadian” under a Canadian Government-determined point system.
The CRTC’s Wholesale Code entered into force in January 2016 and governs certain commercial arrangements between distributors (e.g., cable companies) and programmers (e.g., channel owners). The Code is binding for vertically integrated suppliers in Canada (i.e., suppliers that own infrastructure and programming) and applies as guidelines to foreign programming suppliers (who by definition cannot be vertically integrated, as foreign suppliers are prohibited from owning video distribution infrastructure in Canada).
Coverage Radio and television sectors
CANADA
Since 1991, last amended in July 2020
Pillar Content access |
Sub-pillar Licensing schemes for digital services and applications
Broadcasting Act
As has been reported, the federal Broadcasting Act provides that broadcasting licences may not be issued to non-Canadians or to companies that are effectively owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by non-Canadians. It is not clear if this applies to online companies.
Coverage Broadcasting licenses
CANADA
Since June 2012, last updated in March 2020
Pillar Intermediary liability |
Sub-pillar Safe harbour for intermediaries for any activity other than copyright infringement
Copyright Modernization Act
The Copyright Modernization Act establishes a safe harbour regime beyond intermediaries for copyright infringements. According to Section 31.1(1), internet service providers (ISPs), provided that they are content-neutral, cannot be held liable for providing any means for Internet access.
Coverage Internet intermediaries
CANADA
Since 2004, last updated in December 2021
Pillar Domestic data policies |
Sub-pillar Requirement to perform an impact assessment (DPIA) or have a data protection officer (DPO)
Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act
An organisation must make publicly available the name (or title) and the address of the person who is accountable for the organisation’s privacy policies and practices and to whom complaints or inquiries can be forwarded, based upon the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).
Coverage Horizontal
CANADA
Since June 2019, last amended in August 2019
Pillar Domestic data policies |
Sub-pillar Requirement to allow the government to access personal data collected
Communications Security Establishment Act
Canada's signal intelligence agency, the Communications Security Establishment (CSE), does not have explicit powers to demand disclosure of personal information under the Communications Security Establishment Act. However, the Minister of National Defence can issue an authorisation to the CSE permitting it to "gain access to a portion of the global information infrastructure" to carry out any activity authorised in the furtherance of the active cyber operations aspect of its mandate (Sections 30 and 31). This authorisation could include a demand for access to personal information held by an organisation. Authorisations are time-limited, must have the consent of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and be based on reasonable grounds to believe that the objective of the cyber operation could not be reasonably achieved by other means (Sections 33(4) and 34(4)).
Coverage Horizontal
CANADA
Since June 2012, last updated in March 2020
Pillar Intermediary liability |
Sub-pillar Safe harbour for intermediaries for copyright infringement
Copyright Modernization Act
The Copyright Modernization Act establishes a safe harbour regime for intermediaries for copyright infringements. According to Section 31.1(1), internet service providers (ISPs), provided that they are content-neutral, cannot be held liable for providing any means for Internet access.
Coverage Internet intermediaries
CANADA
In force since 2018
In force since 2020
In force since 2020
Pillar Cross-border data policies |
Sub-pillar Participation in trade agreements committing to open cross-border data flows
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership
United States - Mexico - Canada Agreement
United States - Mexico - Canada Agreement
Canada has joined agreements with binding commitments to open transfers of data across borders: the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP, Art. 14.11), and the United States - Mexico - Canada Agreement (Art. 19.11).
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://www.unilu.ch/fileadmin/fakultaeten/rf/burri/TAPED/TAPED_Dataset_Burri_Vasquez_Polanco_June_2022.xlsx
- https://www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/Trade-agreements/TPP/Text-ENGLISH/14.-Electronic-Commerce-Chapter.pdf
- https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/agreements/FTA/USMCA/Text/19-Digital-Trade.pdf
- Show more...
CANADA
Since 1983
Since 2000
Since 2000
Pillar Domestic data policies |
Sub-pillar Framework for data protection
Privacy Act
Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act
Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act
Canada has a mosaic of federal laws forming its legal framework for citizens' data protection. The Privacy Act regulates how the federal government handles personal information, while the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) covers how businesses handle personal information. Other federal laws target specific information, such as the Bank Act of 1871, while provincial laws contain provisions for the confidentiality tied to credit unions and credit reporting.
Coverage Horizontal
CANADA
Since February 1968, last amended in April 2023
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Sub-pillar Presence of an independent telecom authority
Broadcasting Act
According to the Broadcasting Act the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, the executive authority for the supervision and administration of services in the telecommunications sector, is independent from the government in the decision-making process.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
CANADA
N/A
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Sub-pillar Functional/accounting separation for operators with significant market power
Lack of mandatory functional and accounting separation for dominant network operators
It is reported that Canada does not mandate functional or accounting separation for operators with significant market power (SMP) in the telecom market.
Coverage Telecommunications sector