Government & Regulatory Affairs in Canada

Essentials guide · Source-checked research98% of statements checked against a source48 checked against an official source1 checked against a secondary sourceChecked 2026-10-19Not yet professionally reviewed

• A non-Canadian who establishes or acquires a Canadian business must file either a notification or an application for review under the Investment Canada Act, unless an exemption applies, and a notification must be filed no later than 30 days after the investment is implemented.

  Federal. Applies to establishments and acquisitions of control; exemptions are listed in section 10 of the Act. Investments above the thresholds in ca-establish-002 are reviewable instead of notifiable.Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (Investment Canada Act) · checked 2026-10-19

• Any foreign investment in Canada can be reviewed on national security grounds regardless of its value and whether it is subject to the mandatory filing requirements, including minority investments; without a voluntary filing the review period runs until five years after implementation.

  Federal (Investment Canada Act, Part IV.1). Pre-implementation voluntary notification is encouraged, especially for state-owned or state-influenced investors.Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (Investment Canada Act) · checked 2026-10-19

• Most employers need a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment from Employment and Social Development Canada before hiring a temporary foreign worker, unless the role falls under an LMIA exemption in the International Mobility Program or the worker already holds an open work permit.

  Federal immigration (IRCC and ESDC). Exemption codes must be cited in the offer of employment.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-19

• Business permits and licences in Canada are issued at federal, provincial, territorial and municipal levels, and the government's BizPaL service searches requirements across all of them.

  All levels of government; requirements depend on activity and location.Government of Canada · checked 2026-10-19

• Air transportation, banks, telecommunications, broadcasting, interprovincial and cross-border transport, pipelines, postal and courier services, and uranium and atomic energy are federally regulated industries, while most other businesses fall under provincial or territorial regulation.

  Federal jurisdiction as reflected for labour standards under the Canada Labour Code; sector licensing regimes are separate.Employment and Social Development Canada · checked 2026-10-19

• Federal government tender opportunities are published on CanadaBuys, where suppliers register to sell to the federal government.

  Federal procurement (Public Services and Procurement Canada). Provinces and municipalities run their own procurement.Public Services and Procurement Canada · checked 2026-10-19

• Public Services and Procurement Canada states that federal purchases from Canadian suppliers are being prioritised under a Buy Canadian approach.

  Federal procurement. The detail of the policy and its interaction with trade agreement obligations was not reviewed.Public Services and Procurement Canada · checked 2026-10-19

• Banks, cooperatives, trust and loan companies and insurance companies under federal jurisdiction are regulated by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), with consumer obligations overseen by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada.

  Federally regulated financial institutions. Credit unions and many insurers and trust companies are provincially regulated.Government of Canada · checked 2026-10-19

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