Canada: Compliance

On October 17, 2026, the Department of Finance published proposed regulations to implement the long-awaited 2018 amendments to federal financial institutions legislation that expand the permissible scope of non-financial activities for federally regulated financial institutions (FRFIs).

Understanding the complex intersection of law and business requires specialized expertise that can navigate regulatory frameworks, compliance requirements, and legal implications across various industries. Professional legal guidance helps organizations anticipate challenges, mitigate risks, and make informed strategic decisions in an increasingly regulated business environment.

The Canada Revenue Agency revoked Speed Skating Canada's registration as a qualified donee for missing a tax filing deadline, despite the organization's claim of timely submission. This case raises critical questions about whether revocation is the most proportionate response when the CRA has discretionary authority and alternative compliance tools at its disposal.

The Canadian Competition Bureau has reached a landmark settlement with Kalibrate Canada Inc. over concerns that its data analytics product facilitated anticompetitive behavior in the retail gasoline industry by sharing competitively sensitive station-level pricing and volume information. This case marks the first application of Canada's restructured abuse of dominance provisions and provides critical insights into the Bureau's evolving approach to information sharing, algorithmic pricing, and competition en

Québec has introduced minimum fines ten times higher than previous penalties for environmental violations in high-risk industries including manufacturing, mining, and energy sectors. The amendments to the Environment Quality Act target specific contraventions such as unauthorized discharges, operating without proper authorization, and non-compliance with ministerial conditions.

A U.S. franchisor negotiating its first Canadian area development agreement typically sets the territory and the development schedule the way it would anywhere else: draw a radius, apply a minimum population threshold calibrated to domestic absorption rates, and attach a schedule that assumes the territory fills at a comparable pace.

New draft regulations clarify which federally regulated private businesses must comply with French language obligations under the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act.

Canada's broadcasting, telecommunications, and satellite industries face significant regulatory changes this fall as Parliament advances key legislation. From the CRTC's implementation of the Online Streaming Act amid U.S. trade tensions to new lawful access requirements for service providers and the establishment of Canada's first space launch framework, these developments will reshape operational requirements across the communications sector.

In September 2026, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance (the Committee) released its recommendations for the 2026 Federal Budget. While these recommendations do not form part of the Budget itself, they provide insight into current political policy priorities and proposals that may be reflected in future legislative and fiscal initiatives. In this article, we highlight several recommendations of particular relevance to charities and not-for-profit organizations, with a specific focus on the proposed social sector fund.