The Canadian government, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, is proposing legislative changes to allow law enforcement to conduct searches and seizures of mail. This proposal is outlined in the 2026 spring economic update on page 145 of a 167-page document.
The proposed amendment aims to modify the Canada Post Corporation Act to permit law enforcement to lawfully search and seize mail with authorization from an Act of Parliament. This change is distinct from other measures in the economic update, with connections to initiatives detailed in the document.
A spokesperson for the public safety minister clarified that this amendment does not enable warrantless search and seizure. Instead, it will enable law enforcement to obtain warrants for all types of mail. Currently, warrants are only obtainable for packages and mail weighing over 500 grams.
Several recent police investigations have uncovered drug smuggling operations utilizing Canada Post for mail distribution. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police has previously advocated for this legislative change.
Since taking office a year ago, the Liberal government has been focused on expanding powers for police and intelligence agencies. An initial bill, C-2, aimed to allow warrantless search and seizures of mail under 500 grams but faced criticism, leading to the introduction of a new bill, C-22. Under C-22, lawmakers are deliberating on simplifying data access for law enforcement.
Although the specific details of the proposed amendments in the economic update have not been disclosed, the spokesperson for the public safety minister indicated that these changes are more limited compared to what was initially suggested in C-2.
Prime Minister Carney recently defended the concept of lawful access, emphasizing the importance of granting police additional authority to access information or communications, which has received support from various law enforcement agencies.
The inclusion of this public safety issue in the spring economic update raised questions, but Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne defended the decision, stating that economic updates aim to inform Canadians transparently about the government’s initiatives.
The proposed changes will undergo debate in the House of Commons before a final vote. With recent electoral victories and support from floor-crossers, the Liberals have secured a majority government, enhancing their ability to pass legislative proposals.