Ottawa, Ontario
The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the critical infrastructure and digital systems that people in Canada rely on. This is why today, the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, and the Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Industry and the Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, highlighted that Bill C-8: An Act Respecting Cyber Security (ARCS) received Royal Assent.
This legislation strengthens Canada's ability to protect essential services by supporting the security of the country's telecommunications system, and bolstering cyber security across the financial, telecommunications, energy, and transportation sectors.
ARCS amends the Telecommunications Act to add security as an explicit policy objective and provides the government with new authorities to compel action against threats to the telecommunications system. ARCS also introduces the Critical Cyber Systems Protection Act, which creates a regulatory framework requiring designated operators in the finance, telecommunications, energy, and transportation sectors to protect their critical cyber systems.
Amendments to the Telecommunications Act take immediate effect upon Royal Assent. The Critical Cyber Systems Protection Act will be implemented gradually, with certain provisions coming into force through a phased approach.
Implementing ARCS is crucial for Canadians because it helps protect critical infrastructure against cyber threats that are growing in frequency and sophistication. This law ensures that organizations in vital sectors implement stronger security measures, report significant incidents, and are held accountable. Ultimately, ARCS will help safeguard Canadians' safety, privacy and economic stability by ensuring that essential services remain secure and operational in the face of evolving digital risks.
