Friday, May 1, 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

What the federal Liberals are pitching in their upcoming budget

What the federal Liberals are pitching in their upcoming budget
The federal government has started previewing items that will be included in the federal budget set to be introduced on Nov. 4.

What the federal Liberals are pitching in their upcoming budget

B.C. public service union announces tentative deal to end strike after 8 weeks

B.C. public service union announces tentative deal to end strike after 8 weeks
The B.C. General Employees' Union says it will recommend that its members vote to accept a tentative deal reached with the provincial government to bring an end to strike action, while a union that's been striking alongside them says its picket lines are coming down.

B.C. public service union announces tentative deal to end strike after 8 weeks

Bank of Canada expected to cut key rate despite mixed inflation, jobs data

Bank of Canada expected to cut key rate despite mixed inflation, jobs data
Most economists expect the Bank of Canada will look past strong jobs data and signs of stubbornness on the inflation front to deliver a second consecutive interest rate cut this week.

Bank of Canada expected to cut key rate despite mixed inflation, jobs data

Food costs are spiralling. These Canadians are turning to food banks for help.

Food costs are spiralling. These Canadians are turning to food banks for help.
Food Banks Canada's 2025 HungerCount report says monthly visits neared 2.2 million in March 2025 – five per cent higher than March 2024 and nearly double since March 2019, before the pandemic.

Food costs are spiralling. These Canadians are turning to food banks for help.

Prime Minister Carney says he plans to meet with Chinese President Xi at APEC

Prime Minister Carney says he plans to meet with Chinese President Xi at APEC
Prime Minister Mark Carney plans to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping while the pair are at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum later this week in South Korea.

Prime Minister Carney says he plans to meet with Chinese President Xi at APEC

Alberta set to order end to mass teachers strike

Alberta set to order end to mass teachers strike
The Alberta government is set to table legislation today ordering thousands of striking teachers back to work and end their weeks-long strike.

Alberta set to order end to mass teachers strike