Senators amend error in cybersecurity bill that could have cancelled half of it

The federal government’s cybersecurity bill is facing delays in becoming law after an error was discovered in the Senate that could have nullified half of the legislation’s intended impact. The Senate voted to amend the bill to fix what has been described as a human error, but this will require the legislation to be sent back to the House of Commons for another vote, further prolonging a process that has already taken more than two years.

Senator Patti LaBoucane-Benson emphasized the importance of passing the bill before the end of the parliamentary session, highlighting the increasing cyber threats faced by Canada’s telecommunications systems and critical infrastructure from state and non-state actors globally. Bill C-26, introduced in 2022, aims to introduce new cybersecurity requirements for federally regulated industries and establish national security requirements for the telecommunications sector.

The bill is divided into two parts. The first section amends the Telecommunications Act to give the federal government the authority to prohibit Canadian telecoms from using products and services from “high-risk suppliers,” such as Huawei and ZTE, two Chinese state-backed telecommunications firms, citing national security concerns.

The second part of Bill C-26, the Critical Cyber Systems Protection Act, would require companies in vital, federally regulated sectors like finance, telecommunications, energy, and transportation to enhance their cyber systems against attacks or face penalties. However, an error in the renumbering of clauses in the bill could have invalidated this section upon becoming law.

The delay in the passage of the cybersecurity bill is further complicated by the ongoing gridlock in the House of Commons, where opposition parties are demanding the release of unredacted documents related to a failed green technology scheme. Despite these challenges, there is hope that all parties can work together to ensure the bill becomes law swiftly to protect Canadians from cyber threats.

Parliamentary Secretary Jennifer O’Connell expressed optimism about the bill’s progress, emphasizing its unanimous support in the House of Commons. She urged all parties to collaborate to ensure the cybersecurity bill is enacted to safeguard Canada’s critical infrastructure and telecommunications systems.