Tuesday, May 5, 2026
ADVT 
National

Government to bring forward online harms bill, AI minister says

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 Jan, 2026 11:46 AM
  • Government to bring forward online harms bill, AI minister says

Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon says the federal government is working on online harms legislation.

Solomon says Culture Minister Marc Miller will bring that bill forward.

The bill would be separate from privacy legislation Solomon will introduce, and from a justice bill the government tabled last year that includes elements criminalizing some deepfakes.

The Liberal government introduced the Online Harms Act in 2024, which would have imposed new requirements on social media companies and created an online regulator, but the bill never became law.

Under Prime Minister Mark Carney, the Liberals initially signalled they would not bring the bill back in the same form, but would instead tackle aspects of online harms in other legislation.

Solomon’s comments follow calls from women and children’s advocates to bring back the defunct bill, and after a report in the Globe and Mail said an upcoming online harms bill could include a social media ban for children under 14.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

MORE National ARTICLES

More evacuation orders to lift in parts of Saskatchewan, Manitoba following wildfires

More evacuation orders to lift in parts of Saskatchewan, Manitoba following wildfires
In Manitoba, the 600 residents of the town of Lynn Lake were given the go ahead to return to the community, 775 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, starting Friday morning.  

More evacuation orders to lift in parts of Saskatchewan, Manitoba following wildfires

House Speaker splits major projects bill for two separate votes

House Speaker splits major projects bill for two separate votes
Bill C-5, known as the one Canadian economy act, contains measures to tackle internal trade barriers and also gives the government sweeping new powers to approve major projects.

House Speaker splits major projects bill for two separate votes

Brampton mayor 'cautiously optimistic' about Bishnoi gang terrorist designation

Brampton mayor 'cautiously optimistic' about Bishnoi gang terrorist designation
Brown said he and representatives of Peel police met with the federal minister Wednesday after he asked police whether adding the Bishnoi gang to Ottawa's list of terrorist organizations would help with enforcement.

Brampton mayor 'cautiously optimistic' about Bishnoi gang terrorist designation

Searchers recover second body after rockfall near Banff National Park hiking trail

Searchers recover second body after rockfall near Banff National Park hiking trail
A 70-year-old woman from Calgary was first found dead at the site of Thursday's rock slide at Bow Glacier Falls, north of Lake Louise.

Searchers recover second body after rockfall near Banff National Park hiking trail

Renewed Indo-Canada ties concern protesters on anniversary of Nijjar killing

Renewed Indo-Canada ties concern protesters on anniversary of Nijjar killing
Sikh Federation Canada spokesman Moninder Singh said it was "frustrating" to see Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the G7 meeting in Alberta this week, where he met Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Renewed Indo-Canada ties concern protesters on anniversary of Nijjar killing

One in four Canadians report being affected by extreme weather in last year: poll

One in four Canadians report being affected by extreme weather in last year: poll
Among those who said they had felt the impacts of extreme weather, almost two-thirds reported being forced to stay indoors because of air quality concerns, while 39 per cent reported suffering emotional stress.

One in four Canadians report being affected by extreme weather in last year: poll