Monday, May 11, 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

Freeland says Liberal leadership candidates should pledge to run as MPs

Freeland says Liberal leadership candidates should pledge to run as MPs
Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland called Friday for four Liberal leadership debates Friday and said the other leadership candidates should commit to running in the next election under the party banner — no matter who wins. In an open letter to the other candidates, Freeland said that the four debates, two in each official language, should be held as soon as possible.

Freeland says Liberal leadership candidates should pledge to run as MPs

Federal government using AI to tackle Phoenix backlog as it tests replacement system

Federal government using AI to tackle Phoenix backlog as it tests replacement system
The federal government is expanding its use of artificial intelligence to clear a backlog of Phoenix pay system transactions as it transitions to a new platform. Alex Benay, associate deputy minister at Public Services and Procurement Canada, says his team will be able to share a recommendation with the government on whether it should adopt the Dayforce system as its new human resources and payroll platform by the end of March. 

Federal government using AI to tackle Phoenix backlog as it tests replacement system

Edmonton school board, union for support staff head back to bargaining table

Edmonton school board, union for support staff head back to bargaining table
The union representing school support workers in Edmonton says it has returned to the bargaining table with the city's public school board. Some 3,000 staff, from educational assistants to cafeteria workers, have been on picket lines since Jan. 13 over a wage dispute with the Edmonton Public School Board.

Edmonton school board, union for support staff head back to bargaining table

Escaped prison inmate arrested in Saskatchewan after three weeks

Escaped prison inmate arrested in Saskatchewan after three weeks
RCMP say an inmate has been arrested three weeks after he escaped from a federal prison in Saskatchewan. Mounties say they were searching for Glen Halkett in the Rosthern, Sask., area and spotted him as a passenger in a vehicle with three others. 

Escaped prison inmate arrested in Saskatchewan after three weeks

Six migrants found crossing border on foot in freezing temperatures: Manitoba RCMP

Six migrants found crossing border on foot in freezing temperatures: Manitoba RCMP
Mounties in Manitoba say six people from multiple countries were caught last week trying to illegally cross into Canada from the United States. Police say the group was spotted from the air crossing the border on foot near Emerson on Jan. 14. 

Six migrants found crossing border on foot in freezing temperatures: Manitoba RCMP

Vancouver mayor proposes pause on new supportive housing in Downtown Eastside

Vancouver mayor proposes pause on new supportive housing in Downtown Eastside
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has unveiled a plan to revitalize the city's troubled Downtown Eastside, including pausing the construction of net new supportive housing units. Sim told a Save Our Streets forum, held by a coalition of groups concerned about crime and public safety in B.C., that the proposal is one of three key policy shifts being planned to transform the Downtown Eastside.

Vancouver mayor proposes pause on new supportive housing in Downtown Eastside