**Liberal Government Proposes Bill to Restrict Internet Access** The Canadian government is advancing legislation that could allow officials to restrict internet access for specific individuals. Bill C-8 is currently in the second reading stage in the House of Commons. This bill includes a provision that would enable the federal government to cut off internet services to any designated person based solely on the order of the Minister of Industry, currently Mélanie Joly, in consultation with the Minister of Public Safety, Gary Anandasangaree.

Under the proposed changes to the Telecommunications Act, telecom providers like Rogers and Telus would be required to terminate services for individuals specified by the government. The bill states that the industry minister could “prohibit a telecommunications service provider from providing any service to any specified person.” Notably, this action would not require a warrant, and judicial oversight would only occur after the order is executed.

The government has framed Bill C-8 as a necessary measure to address “unprecedented cyber-threats.” In a recent session in the House of Commons, Anandasangaree defended the bill, stating, “Malicious cyber-actors are breaching our country’s IT systems, accessing sensitive information and putting lives in danger.” He emphasized that hostile state actors are compromising national security and public safety by stealing information and accessing critical systems.

The rationale for granting a federal minister the authority to deny internet service to individuals is outlined in the bill, which suggests it may be “necessary to do so to secure the Canadian telecommunications system against any threat, including that of interference, manipulation, disruption or degradation.”

However, critics have raised concerns about the extensive powers the bill would grant the federal government. They argue it would enable authorities to collect internet data without a warrant and without the knowledge of the individuals being monitored. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association criticized the bill, stating, “Bill C-8 would empower the federal government to secretly order telecom providers to do anything or refrain from doing anything,” potentially leading to increased surveillance and weakened encryption standards.

This proposed legislation comes despite the Liberal government's previous commitments to internet freedom. Canada has historically condemned government control over internet access, viewing it as a threat to human rights. As a founding member of the Freedom Online Coalition, Canada has participated in joint statements opposing state-sponsored restrictions on free expression and assembly online. In 2019, Canada signed a statement highlighting concerns over diminishing civic spaces due to such controls.

Just three years ago, the Liberal government released a document asserting that “the rights and freedoms that individuals have offline must also be protected online.” It reiterated Canada’s commitment to collaborating with international partners to safeguard internet freedoms, including the rights to online expression and peaceful assembly.

Bill C-8 is part of a broader trend of legislation introduced by the Liberal government that seeks to impose new regulations on the Canadian internet. Earlier this year, the Online News Act was enacted, requiring social media platforms to compensate news organizations for links shared on their sites. As discussions around Bill C-8 continue, the implications for internet access and civil liberties in Canada remain a significant concern for many.