Where Parties Stand on Bill C-22, the ‘Lawful Access’ Bill Granting Police New Powers

Members of Parliament have begun debating Ottawa’s proposed “lawful access” Bill C-22, with clashes over privacy, oversight, and potential government overreach.

The bill was first introduced by the Liberals on March 12 and was moved to second reading in the House of Commons on April 13. It would grant law enforcement and CSIS new powers to compel telecommunications providers to disclose customer information without a warrant, targeting metadata like device location, date, time, and service details. The legislation aims to update investigative tools for digital crimes.

In announcing the bill last month, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said individuals’ medical information would not be accessible under the bill and added that Parliament would review the law three years after its passage.

Liberals Say Bill is Necessary, Limited in Scope

During debate in the House of Commons on April 13, Liberals framed the bill as an overdue update to fight crime in the digital age, with Justice Minister Sean Fraser saying the law is needed to crack down on online and cross-border crime.

“If we want to keep Canadians safe, we must advance the law in a way that reflects the changes to technology,” he said.

Fraser said the bill is part of a larger public safety strategy of the Carney government built on the “three key pillars” of stronger laws, more tools for law enforcement, and social investments.

He said that current investigative methods are too slow for the real-time digital environment and that the bill will give investigators access to user information and data in “days, or, in some instances, even hours” rather than in “months.” Fraser added that the bill’s scope is limited and said it will still protect privacy.

“We are not talking about the content of particular messages, but only whether a particular number or IP address exists on a particular network,” he said.

To support his position, Fraser cited remarks from Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Thomas Carrique, who said “lawful access is absolutely required and it’s required now.”

Conservatives Raise Legal, Privacy Concerns

Conservative MP Frank Caputo, who serves as his party’s public safety critic, said that the Tories are “open to” anything that helps law enforcement do its job but that any proposed law must be “Charter-compliant and consistent with the rights of privacy.”

Caputo said Bill C-22 goes “too far” in seeking legal access to “any information.” He said that while the bill improves on past similar legislation in Bill C-2 and Bill C-8, it still contains concerning provisions that could infringe on privacy and allow for government overreach.

“The devil is in the details,” Caputo said. “It is my view that whenever the government tells anybody, including electronic service providers, that they must keep something, including metadata, it is something we need to ask questions about.”

Fellow Conservative MP Harb Gill said the proposed legislation may make it easier to access private information online.

“Why are we now saying that reasonable suspicion alone is enough? Are we lowering the bar for accessing personal information?” he asked.

Bloc Québécois Concerned About Abuse 

The Bloc Québécois said Bill C-22 is better than previous legislation but still could give the government too much power regarding online surveillance.

“Just because it is better does not mean it is perfect,” said Bloc Québécois MP Rhéal Éloi Fortin. “Granting investigative powers based on mere suspicion could amount to a blank cheque.”

Fortin also noted that if decisions are reviewed after the fact, it would not amount to real oversight.

While Fortin said he agrees that law enforcement should be given “the tools they need to adapt to the realities of 2026,” he questioned whether the bill would even be effective in adapting to rapid technological shifts.

“We are about to pass a bill that purports to regulate what will happen in six months, a year, or 10 years,” he said.

For her part, Green Party MP Elizabeth May said that even if Bill C-22 does help police fight crime, it won’t address more fundamental public safety issues such as police readiness and training.