Canada tables Bill S-7 to cut red tape across 31 federal laws

Canada tables Bill S-7 to cut red tape across 31 federal laws

7 October 2026: The Government of Canada has introduced Bill S-7, the Cutting Red Tape for all Canadians Act, which amends 31 pieces of legislation and their regulations across 11 departments and agencies. The Treasury Board Secretariat says the government plans to bring forward red tape legislation on a recurring basis, built on stakeholder feedback and the Red Tape Review it launched in 2025.

Not yet independently verified. Both sources are from the same department, and the bill text itself has not been read. The release gives no commencement dates for individual measures. We will update this when it can be confirmed, and remove this note.

Much of the bill is agricultural, fisheries and transport housekeeping, including the removal of more than 160 outdated farm marketing rules. Several changes reach businesses and technology buyers:

• Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act: simpler procedures for restructuring a small business.
• Radiocommunication Act: registration in place of certification for low-risk wireless devices, more automated processes and improved access to spectrum.
• Canada Border Services Agency Act: temporary exemptions so that new border technologies can be tested with industry partners.
• Marine Transportation Security Act: updated authorities for cybersecurity and information sharing.
• Canada Transportation Act: data protection safeguards for transportation companies.
• Statutory Instruments Act: removal of paper-based requirements and support for digital publication and certification.

Three more amendments clarify that departments may run regulatory processes electronically. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act covers the use of electronic tools and services and removes duplicative reporting. The Fisheries Act allows authorisations to be managed electronically, and the Department of the Environment Act allows permitting, compliance monitoring and enforcement activities to be carried out electronically.

The department names agriculture and food, fisheries, mining, telecommunications, transport and the digital economy among the sectors affected. It says the aim is to save time and cost for Canadians and businesses while keeping health, safety and environmental protections in place. The bill must still pass Parliament, and the release gives no commencement dates for individual measures.

Sources

• Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat: Government of Canada introduces legislation to reduce red tape, 7 October 2026
• Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat: Cutting Red Tape for all Canadians Act (backgrounder), 7 October 2026