Politics · Canada · 4 hrs ago
Canada’s digital safety bill has no timeline for a new regulator
Canadian Culture Minister Marc Miller says the government is moving quickly on digital safety bill C-34, but he cannot give a timeline for setting up its regulator.
The bill includes a ban on social media for children and would create the Digital Safety and Data Protection Commission of Canada.
The regulator would be able to issue binding orders and fines, and assess whether age checks protect privacy and whether platforms qualify for exemptions.
Officials said setting up the regulator could take 18 months, while medical leaders have warned that children need protection sooner.
Miller cited risks including harmful algorithms, sexual deepfakes and predators targeting children, and said tech companies may resist the rules.
Bill C-34 is at second reading in the House of Commons; if it passes, it must go through a committee study and the Senate before it can become law.
Culture Minister Marc Miller said he could not give a timeline for setting up the regulator proposed in Canada’s digital safety bill C-34.
Miller said the government is moving as quickly as possible and that he is concerned about the delay.
When the bill was introduced, government officials said the regulator would take 18 months to establish.
The bill would create a commission with powers to issue binding orders and levy fines.
The bill, introduced in June, is awaiting second reading in the House of Commons.
- Who
- Culture Minister Marc Miller discussed the regulator timeline; Alex Munter raised concerns about the delay.
- What
- The government has no specific timeline for establishing the regulator proposed in digital safety bill C-34.
- When
- Miller spoke on Thursday at a conference; the article was published on 2026-10-22.
- Where
- McGill University’s Democracy, Rebuilt conference in Montreal.
- Why
- The bill proposes a new regulator to administer digital safety rules, but the sources do not state why a specific timeline is unavailable.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Bill C-34 was introduced.
Government officials said it would take 18 months to set up the regulator.
Miller spoke at McGill University’s Democracy, Rebuilt conference in Montreal and said he could not offer a specific timeline.
Bill C-34 was up for second reading in the House of Commons.
- Bill
- C-34
- Regulator
- Digital Safety and Data Protection Commission of Canada
- Initial setup estimate
- 18 months
- Regulator membership
- Five members appointed by cabinet
- Regulator powers
- Issue binding orders and levy fines
- Current legislative stage
- Up for second reading in the House of Commons
What people are saying
Eighteen months in Ottawa is like three years
We don’t have that kind of time … Parents want these toxic products out of their children’s hands now.
I’m equally, if not more concerned, than Alex.
It has to be dynamic, fluid, and can have relationships that are built