Forward Regulatory Plan 2025 – 2027

Proposed Regulatory Initiatives

Order Amending the Schedule to the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act

Description

The proposed amendments would update references to the licences listed in the schedule to the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act.

Potential impact on Canadians and Businesses

There are no impacts on Canadians and businesses as the proposed update to the schedule is to delete licences that no longer exist.

Public consultation opportunities

No public consultations are anticipated as the amendments update an existing legislative program by reflecting changes made to the names of various licences. Consultations will be held with Transport Canada to ensure accuracy in the licences listed in the schedule.

Department contact

Cassandre Laveaux, Counsel
Family and Children’s Law Team
Family Law and Youth Justice Policy Section
Department of Justice
343-550-4850

Regulations Amending the Release of Information for Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Regulations

Description

The Release of Information for Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Regulations (Release of Information Regulations) must be amended as a consequence of amendments made by former Bill C-78, An Act to amend the Divorce Act, the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act and the Garnishment, Attachment and Pension Diversion Act and to make consequential amendments to another Act (former Bill C-78).

The Release of Information Regulations would identify the information that can be searched for and released to federal, provincial and territorial Central Authorities under the Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980 Convention), the Convention of 19 October 1996 on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children (1996 Convention) and the Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance (2007 Convention), which will vary depending on the purpose for which the information is being requested.

Potential impact on Canadians and Businesses

The Release of Information Regulations would give effect to amendments made by former Bill C-78. Specifically, the changes would help Canadian federal, provincial and territorial Central Authorities responsible for implementing obligations under three international family law Conventions (the 1980, 1996 and 2007 Conventions) by releasing information from federal information banks to assist Central Authorities in locating parties in Canada. There are no anticipated business impacts.

Public consultation opportunities

Key stakeholders, notably the provinces and territories, have been consulted on an ongoing basis for a number of years. These consultations will continue. Federal partners, including the Canada Revenue Agency, have been consulted in the context of the amendments made by former Bill C-78, and will continue to be consulted regarding the Release of Information Regulations. The public will be consulted through the pre-publication process in the Canada Gazette, Part I.

Department contact

Cassandre Laveaux, Counsel
Family and Children’s Law Team
Family Law and Youth Justice Policy Section
Department of Justice
343-550-4850

Order in Council setting out the coming into force date of former Bill C-78 legislative amendments to Part II of the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act

Description

The Order in Council will set out the coming-into-force date of former Bill C-78 provisions related to Part II of the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act which is expected to be in November 2026.

Potential impact on Canadians and Business

N/A

Public consultation opportunities

N/A

Department contact

Annick Boulay, Counsel
Family and Children’s Law Team
Family Law and Youth Justice Policy Section
Department of Justice
343-998-7862

Amendments to the Federal Child Support Guidelines

Description

The proposed amendments update Schedule I (Federal Child Support Tables) of the Federal Child Support Guidelines (Federal Guidelines) using the existing child support formula and more recent tax rules.

Potential impact on Canadians and Business

The proposed amendments would ensure that child support amounts reflect the most current tax rules and are based on parents’ current capacity to pay. They would uphold the Federal Guidelines’ objective to establish a fair standard of support for children so that they continue to benefit from the financial means of both their parents after separation.

There are no expected business impacts.

Public consultation opportunities

As the proposed amendments are technical in nature (i.e., child support amounts will be updated using the existing child support formula and more recent tax rules), there are no public consultations expected.

The amendments would be developed in collaboration with provincial and territorial officials.

Department contact

Andina van Isschot, Counsel
Family Law and Youth Justice Policy Section
Department of Justice
613-614-7624

Regulations Amending the Family Support Orders and Agreements Garnishment Regulations

Description

The Family Support Orders and Agreements Garnishment Regulations (Garnishment Regulations) must be amended as a consequence of amendments made by former Bill C-78, An Act to amend the Divorce Act, the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act and the Garnishment, Attachment and Pension Diversion Act and to make consequential amendments to another Act. Amendments would remove the notice to the debtor and the application form from the Garnishment Regulations and would instead list the information to be provided in an application. Other amendments would provide greater flexibility in relation to service of documents, clarify the periods and circumstances where garnishment is to terminate and define the manner in which garnishee summonses are to be honoured where more than one garnishee summons against the same debtor is served.

Potential impact on Canadians and Businesses

The regulatory amendments would improve service to, and access to justice for, Canadians by making the garnishment process more efficient. Amendments would provide greater certainty to applicants as to when documents are deemed submitted, and as to when garnishment ends. Amendments would also provide clarity as to how multiple summonses against the same debtor are to be treated and would provide administrative flexibility and efficiency to the federal government regarding modifications to the application form.

There are no expected business impacts.

Public consultation opportunities

Key stakeholders, including federal partners and provincial and territorial services that receive and process the garnishment applications were consulted in relation to the legislative amendments brought about by former Bill C-78. Consultations will continue regarding amendments to the regulations. The public will be consulted through the pre-publication process in the Canada Gazette, Part I.

Department contact

Annick Boulay, Counsel
Family and Children’s Law Team
Family Law and Youth Justice Policy Section
Department of Justice
343-998-7862

Order Designating the Ministers Responsible for the Application of Part II of the Garnishment, Attachment and Pension Diversion Act

Description

The governor in council designates, by order, the ministers responsible for the application of Part II of the Garnishment, Attachment and Pension Diversion Act. The order SI/84-6 that designates those ministers will be updated. The names of certain ministers and ministerial responsibilities have changed since the order was made in 1984.

Department contact

Cassandre Laveaux, Counsel
Family and Children’s Law Team
Family Law and Youth Justice Policy Section
Department of Justice
343-550-4850

Regulations Amending the Contraventions Regulations (Tobacco and Vaping Products Act)

Description

The amendments will designate offences found in the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA) and regulations made under that Act as contraventions to allow enforcement officers to use the Contraventions Regime as an enforcement tool. Amendments to Schedule XIV to the Contraventions Regulations are also required to account for amendments made to the TVPA, includingto update short-form descriptions and repeal certain items. Certain fine amounts will also be increased.

Potential impact on Canadians and Business

These amendments provide enforcement officers with an appropriate enforcement tool, enabling them to fulfil their mandate more effectively in promoting regulatory compliance. It improves access to justice by allowing offenders to plead guilty and pay a fine without having to appear in court, while saving the courts and law enforcement agencies precious resources.

Public consultation opportunities

Health Canada completed its consultations in August 2024.

Department contact

Programs Branch Legal Services Division
Department of Justice
PBLSD@justice.gc.ca

Regulations Amending the Contraventions Regulations (Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994)

Description

The amendments will designate offences found in the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, and Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, as contraventions, adjust fine amounts and make technical amendments to the Contraventions Regulations.

Potential impact on Canadians and Business

These amendments provide enforcement officers with an appropriate enforcement tool, enabling them to fulfil their mandate more effectively in promoting regulatory compliance. It improves access to justice by allowing offenders to plead guilty and pay a fine without having to appear in court, while saving the courts and law enforcement agencies resources.

Public consultation opportunities

Environment and Climate Change Canada is expected to hold consultations in 2025-26.

Department contact

Programs Branch Legal Services Division
Department of Justice
PBLSD@justice.gc.ca

Regulations Amending the Contraventions Regulations (Government Property Traffic Act)

Description

These amendments seek to remove duplicative designations, increase fine amounts and make other technical amendments for offences designated as contraventions under Schedule III (Government Property Traffic Act) to the Contraventions Regulations.

Potential impact on Canadians and Business

These amendments provide enforcement officers with an appropriate enforcement tool, enabling them to fulfil their mandate more effectively in promoting regulatory compliance. It improves access to justice by allowing offenders to plead guilty and pay a fine without having to appear in court, while saving the courts and law enforcement agencies resources.

Public consultation opportunities

Consultations are expected to be held in 2025-26.

Department contact

Programs Branch Legal Services Division
Department of Justice
PBLSD@justice.gc.ca

Amendments to the Evaluation of Impaired Operation (Drugs and Alcohol) Regulations

Description

Some of the Ministerial Orders enacted pursuant to the Criminal Code impaired driving regime require updating. They rely on outdated enabling provisions, and are improperly characterized as Statutory Instruments (SI) when the current legislative approach would be to characterize them as a Statutory Order and Regulation (SOR). While this does not affect their legal validity, it may result in confusion and make the criminal law less accessible to Canadians.

This initiative would not make any substantive changes to the regulations, but would repeal and replace the following Orders to ensure they reflect the current Criminal Code impaired driving provisions, which were enacted in 2018:

  1. The Approved Breath Analysis Instrument Order (SI/85-201); and
  2. The Evaluation of Impaired Operation (Drugs and Alcohol) Regulations (SOR/2008-196).

Potential impact on Canadians and Business

The proposed measure will have no impact on business and a small positive impact to Canadians by improving the accessibility of the Criminal Code.

Public consultation opportunities

This administrative change is not expected to require public consultation.

Department contact

Joanna Wells, Counsel / Morna Boyle, Counsel
Criminal Law Policy Section
Department of Justice
613-878-1137 / 343-542-8529

Regulations Prescribing Certain Offences to be Serious Offences

Description

Subsection 467.1(4) of the Criminal Code provides the ability to respond to the changing activities of organized crime groups by allowing the Governor in Council to make regulations prescribing offences, which are punishable by less than five years imprisonment, to be “serious offences.” A “serious offence” is defined in the Criminal Code to mean an indictable offence under any Act of Parliament for which the maximum punishment is at least five years’ imprisonment or another offence that is prescribed by regulation. The Regulations make a number of criminal offences “serious offences” for the purposes of the organized crime provisions.

The proposed amendments would include repealing or amending provisions to reflect changes in the originating federal legislation and potentially the designation of new “serious offences.”

Potential impact on Canadians and Business

The proposed amendments would more accurately reflect the full range of conduct engaged in by organized crime and recognize the increased threat to public safety that occurs when organized crime engages in certain criminal acts.

The proposed amendments are not expected to have cost implications.

Public consultation opportunities

The federal government will engage provincial and territorial partners through established forums like the Coordinating Committee of Senior Officials – Criminal Justice.

Department contact

Kenyatta Hawthorne, Counsel / Matthew Taylor, Director General and Senior General Counsel
Criminal Law Policy Section
Department of Justice
343-571-7283 / 343-551-9620

Regulation Amending Schedule II to the Privacy Regulations

Description

The proposed amendments would add two entities to the list of investigative bodies in Schedule II to the Privacy Regulations for the purposes of the application of paragraph 8(2)(e) of the Privacy Act. These entities, within Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Enforcement Branch, are the Environmental Enforcement Directorate and the Wildlife Enforcement Directorate.

Potential impact on Canadians and Business

There are no expected impacts.

Public consultation opportunities

The Privacy Commissioner has been consulted on the proposed regulatory amendments. As well, the proposed regulatory amendments will be pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, and this will permit online commenting using the online comment feature in the Canada Gazette, Part I.

Department contact

Alison Harding-Shogilev, Counsel
Centre for Information and Privacy Law
Public Law and Legislative Services Section
Department of Justice
343-542-5102

Regulations Amending the Application of Provincial Law Regulations

Description

Amendments will be made to the Application of Provincial Laws Regulations in order to remedy certain inconsistencies between the different parts of the Regulations and to incorporate by reference territorial ticketing scheme(s).

Potential impact on Canadians and Business

The proposed regulatory amendments are sought as a preliminary step to the negotiation of Contraventions Act Administration and Enforcement Agreements (Agreements) with the territories.

Following regulatory amendments and if the Agreements are signed with the territories, enforcement officers will then be able to use the Contraventions Act regime as an enforcement tool in that jurisdiction.

Public consultation opportunities

As the amendments are technical and relate to agreements with provinces and territories, no public consultations will be conducted.

Department contact

Programs Branch Legal Services Division
Department of Justice
PBLSD@justice.gc.ca