October 10, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) and the Canadian Police Association (CPA) welcome Bill C-12 as a practical step on border integrity, fentanyl precursors, immigration processing, and anti-money laundering. We recognize the need to move forward quickly on measures that have broad support but insist that Bill C-2 continue to move forward with the provisions that address reasonable lawful access and amendments to the Canada Post Corporation Act.

Politics cannot continue to outweigh public safety. Both the government and the official opposition have made significant public safety commitments, and Canadians now expect legislation that matches those promises. Bill
C-2 contains the lawful access updates that are necessary to allow the police to collect data and intercept communications specifically required to investigate modern, technology enabled crime, protect victims, and hold offenders to account. Bill C-2 also proposes amendments that would allow the police to conduct judicially authorized searches and seizures of parcels and letters sent through Canada Post, when there are reasonable grounds to do so, in order to intercept contraband, firearms, alcohol, counterfeit items, lethal doses of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs before they make their way to their intended destination.  

These tools are not warrantless surveillance. They are used with judicial authorization and clear legal thresholds, including access to basic subscriber information on judicial order, modernized production and preservation orders, clarified duties for service providers to retain and disclose data when lawfully required, and search of mail only where authorized under existing law.

Public safety and civil liberties must not be viewed in opposition. Both can co-exist and must advance together with safeguards that Canadians expect, including judicial authorization, necessity and proportionality, narrow and time-limited orders, transparency and public reporting, independent oversight with auditability and complaint pathways, retention limits, and regular parliamentary review.

For more than two decades, efforts to modernize enabling legislation have stalled while crime has moved online and criminals have exploited outdated legislation to the detriment of law-abiding Canadians. We respect the role of civil liberties advocates, but it is time to move beyond categorical opposition and toward identifying balanced, well-informed and workable solutions that also recognize and reflect legitimate law enforcement and public safety needs.

Our ask of Parliament is straightforward. Move Bill C-12 forward on an expedited basis. Set a clear timetable to advance the lawful access and related modernization provisions in Bill C-2, with safeguards that protect rights while giving police the court authorized tools needed to appropriately investigate crimes, bring criminals to justice and keep Canadians safe. Part of governing is making difficult and responsible decisions that balance priorities and achieve a safe and secure Canada. We stand ready to work with ministers, parliamentarians, privacy experts, technology partners, and communities to deliver legislation that protects rights and delivers real public safety outcomes.

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Additional Resource

CACP Report on Lawful Access: This document is meant to assist the reader in understanding various scenarios in which lawful access provisions contained within Bill C-2 will assist police in serious criminal investigations.

Media contacts:

Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police
Natalie Wright | communications@cacp.ca | 613-838-8807

Canadian Police Association
Michael Gendron | mgendron@cpa-acp.ca  | 613-299-6516