Canada needs to do a better job of protecting its citizens. Canada has fallen behind in protecting its people, and I’ve seen the consequences firsthand. Having spent years working in law and business, I’ve watched policies evolve—or, in many cases, stay stuck while other countries move forward.
Canada is often reactive instead of proactive regarding privacy, consumer rights, and corporate accountability—the gaps in protection impact real people in fundamental ways.
Protecting Its Citizens
Take privacy laws. The EU has the GDPR. The U.S. has state-level laws like the CCPA in California. Canada? We still rely on PIPEDA, which was introduced in 2000.
That’s before social media even existed. Companies collect and use data in ways the law never accounted for, and people have little recourse when their information is misused. I’ve talked to business owners who struggle to deal with outdated regulations, and I’ve seen individuals lose control of their data with no clear path to justice.
Consumer rights aren’t much better. The Competition Bureau steps in when things go wrong, but enforcement is inconsistent. Price-fixing scandals come to light years after the damage is done.
Airlines and telecom companies nickel-and-dime customers with fees that would be illegal elsewhere in other countries. The UK has stricter rules on hidden fees. Here in Canada? Good luck getting a refund.
Then there’s corporate accountability. White-collar crime rarely leads to jail time in Canada. In the United States, executives go to prison for fraud. Here, they work out settlements and walk away. Businesses operate in legal gray areas because they know enforcement is weak. Watching ethical companies struggle while bad actors exploit the system is frustrating.
None of this is inevitable. Other countries have tackled these issues, and Canada could too. But until there’s real pressure—political or public—things won’t change. What do you think needs to happen to push Canada forward?
