Ottawa introduces privacy bill covering children's data, right to request deletion

  • Canadian Press

The flag flies on the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA -- Proposed federal legislation would recognize privacy as a fundamental right of all Canadians and set higher standards for organizations when they manage children's data.

The Liberal government introduced the long-awaited bill today to update decades-old privacy laws covering the private sector.

The government says in a media statement the legislation would protect Canadians' personal data while giving businesses clearer rules to allow them to innovate responsibly and build trust in the digital economy.

Under the legislation, Canadians would have the right to request that private sector companies delete their personal information.

The bill would be administered by a new regulator that would also be responsible for recently introduced digital safety provisions.

This is the Liberal government's third attempt to update the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act after introducing bills in 2020 and in 2023 that did not become law.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2026.