Royal Assent: Cybersecurity and Criminal Law Acts

Summary#

On June 15, 2026, Mr. Kenneth MacKillop (acting Deputy of the Governor General) signified Royal Assent to three bills listed in this Canada Gazette notice. The notice records that those bills are now chapters of the statutes and also repeats a previous publication of Standing Order 130 about private bills (published May 24, 2025).

What it does#

• Records that Royal Assent was given on June 15, 2026 to three bills, listed here by title and chapter:
  • An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts (Bill C‑8, chapter 9, 2026)
  • An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sterilization procedures) (Bill S‑228, chapter 10, 2026)
  • An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the National Defence Act (bail and sentencing) (Bill C‑14, chapter 11, 2026)
• Notes that Standing Order 130 (about notices of intended applications for private bills) was previously published in the Gazette on May 24, 2025, and gives a contact for the Private Members’ Business Office, House of Commons.

Who's affected#

• People and businesses involved with communications networks and cyber security, because one Act amends the Telecommunications Act.
• People who may be affected by changes to criminal law, including matters tied to sterilization, bail, and sentencing — this includes accused people, victims, lawyers, and courts (the notice does not give details about the substance of the changes).
• Members of the armed forces and those involved in military justice, because the National Defence Act is named in one of the amendments.
• People or groups who seek private bills, and anyone who deals with the Private Members’ Business Office, House of Commons, because the notice repeats the Standing Order and contact information.
• The Gazette entry itself gives only titles and chapters; it does not explain the detailed rules or how they will be applied.

Why it matters#

• The Royal Assent step is the formal notice that these bills completed the parliamentary process and are recorded as Acts (chapters) — that is the legal milestone that typically makes parliamentary changes official.
• Changes to cyber security and the Telecommunications Act may affect how telecoms operate and how online services are regulated or protected.
• Amendments to the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act, and the National Defence Act could change how bail, sentencing, and certain medical/procedural issues are handled in criminal and military contexts.
• The Gazette notice itself does not provide the text or detailed effects of the laws; to know exactly what changes mean in practice you would need the full Acts or related regulations.