Friday, May 8, 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

Darpan 10: Harjinder Singh Sidhu Chief Constable - Delta Police Department  

Darpan 10: Harjinder Singh Sidhu Chief Constable - Delta Police Department  
Meet the first South Asian Chief Constable of the Delta Police Department, Mr. Harjinder Sidhu. Find out more about his new role and his plan to tackle crime South of the Fraser.

Darpan 10: Harjinder Singh Sidhu Chief Constable - Delta Police Department  

Woman dies after being found unresponsive on Blackcomb Mountain in B.C.

Woman dies after being found unresponsive on Blackcomb Mountain in B.C.
A woman has died after being found unresponsive on a mountain at a British Columbia ski resort. Police say a person riding the gondola at Whistler Blackcomb spotted the woman on Blackcomb Mountain, and patrollers contacted police at about 10 a.m. on Thursday after locating her.

Woman dies after being found unresponsive on Blackcomb Mountain in B.C.

B.C.'s Kwantlen university to lay off 70 faculty due to $49 million revenue loss

B.C.'s Kwantlen university to lay off 70 faculty due to $49 million revenue loss
About 70 faculty members at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Metro Vancouver will receive lay-off notices Friday after a "sharp decline" in international students resulted in a revenue loss of about $49 million. Laurie Clancy, vice-president of human resources at the university, says the decision is "sad and unfortunate" because they have a wonderful faculty.

B.C.'s Kwantlen university to lay off 70 faculty due to $49 million revenue loss

Rare unanimous support for B.C. bill on perinatal, postnatal mental health care

Rare unanimous support for B.C. bill on perinatal, postnatal mental health care
The Opposition B.C. Conservatives say the proposal by caucus chair Jody Toor is the first private member’s bill to pass second reading with unanimous support in a recorded vote in 43 years.

Rare unanimous support for B.C. bill on perinatal, postnatal mental health care

Canadian officials say meeting with U.S. commerce secretary was constructive

Canadian officials say meeting with U.S. commerce secretary was constructive
Canadian officials said a Thursday meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was constructive and lowered temperatures amid the ongoing trade war launched by U.S. President Donald Trump last month — but they expected no immediate changes to punishing tariffs. 

Canadian officials say meeting with U.S. commerce secretary was constructive

Teen dies after car crashes into tree in Vancouver's Stanley Park

Teen dies after car crashes into tree in Vancouver's Stanley Park
Police in Vancouver say an 18-year-old man has died in an early morning car crash in Stanley Park. They say in a news release that the driver of a white BMW was travelling between Second and Third Beach in the park when he lost control and hit a tree just after 3 a.m.

Teen dies after car crashes into tree in Vancouver's Stanley Park