Lobbying registration dated 2026-02-13
Registrant: Howard Sapers
Client: Canadian Civil Liberties Association
Targeted institutions:
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Treasury Board Of Canada Secretariat (TBS)
Justice Canada (JC)
House of Commons
Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC)
Office of the Correctional Investigator of Canada
Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC)
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)
Parole Board of Canada (PBC)
Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC)
Privy Council Office (PCO)
Senate of Canada
Public Safety Canada (PS)
Correctional Service of Canada (CSC)
Prime Minister's Office (PMO)
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Legislative bills: C-12
C-5
C-20
C-48
C-63
S-235
C-26
S-209
C-9
S-218
C-72
S-256
C-2
C-14
C-16
C-27
C-4
Acts: Building Canada Act
Criminal Code
Youth Criminal Justice Act
National Defence Act
Extradition Act
Telecommunications Act
Citizenship Act
Canada Post Corporation Act
Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
Government funding received:
Lobbying activity details:
The notwithstanding clause of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, with respect to guidelines, limitations, and principles about its use through either law or policy, including through legislative proposals (Bill S-218, An Act to Amend the Constitution Act, 1982). The CCLA website contains a brief outlining the full position of the organization.
Prospective amendments to the Criminal Code related to mandatory minimum sentences and remedies for violations of s. 11(b) of the Charter.
The civil liberties implications of forced detox under the Protective Detention and Care of Intoxicated Persons Act, SM 2025, c 49.
Bill C-48, An act to amend the Criminal Code (bail reform).

The passage and content of the bill as a whole are subject to lobbying activity, specific provisions where CCLA is advocating amendments can be found in our public brief to the Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs (LCJC).
Consultation on prospective amendments to the Criminal Code related to offences against children.
The Criminal Code, respecting prospective amendments around provisions concerning penalties for auto theft
Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Citizenship Act.
Bill S-235:An Act to amend the Citizenship Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. 
 
Participation in coalition advocating to provide citizenship for survivors of child welfare system and ensure removal orders against such persons are not enforceable.
Extradition Act.
 
Letter to the Prime Minister regarding the case of Dr. Hassan Diab and urging the government to review provisions of the Extradition Act.
Bill C-2, An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of the border between Canada and the United States and respecting other related security measures, with respect to legal standards for peace officers/CSIS to obtain information, a proposed regime to require surveillance-enabled digital services, cross-border information sharing, and amendments to IRPA that would impact refugee protection and permit categorical cancellation of documents, and which are also replicated in Bill C-12, An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of Canada’s borders and the integrity of the Canadian immigration system and respecting other related security measures.
Bill S-256, An Act to amend the Canada Post Corporation Act (seizure) and to make related amendments to other Acts.

Advocacy related to the legal standard to search Canada Post mail.
Bill C-27, the Digital Charter Implementation Act.
 
Lobbying around the private-sector privacy and artificial intelligence portions of the bill, with an intention to make these proposed legislations more respecting of privacy and human rights.
Bill C-4, An Act respecting certain affordability measures for Canadians and another measure, with respect to the information privacy framework applicable to political parties
Implementing Recommendation 11 of the Public Inquiry on Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions and the need to safeguard privacy and fundamental freedoms in doing so.
Bill C-20, An Act establishing the Public Complaints and Review Commission and amending certain Acts and statutory instruments.

The content of the bill as a whole are subject to lobbying activity, specific provisions where CCLA is advocating amendments can be found in our public brief to the House Standing Committee on Public Safety and Security (SECU).
Bill S-209, An Act to restrict young persons’ online access to pornographic material, regarding the privacy implications of a proposed age verification requirement that would be imposed by the Bill on online entities including social media companies, the accuracy and bias of available artificial intelligence age assessment tools relied upon by the Bill, and the implications of using a website blocking remedy as an enforcement tool.
Automated Sequestering of Criminal Records Legislation.

The CCLA, as a member of the civil society entity the Fresh Start Coalition, is seeking the introduction of legislation creating legislation to automatically sequester criminal records.
Bill C-26, An Act respecting cybersecurity, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts.
 
Lobbying around telecommunications and cybersecurity, with an intention of making proposed legislation more respecting of privacy and human rights.
A legislative proposal regarding the prohibition of obstacles to the interoperability of health information technology vendors (formerly Bill C-72, Connected Care For Canadians Act,  an Act respecting the interoperability of health information technology and to prohibit data blocking by health information technology vendors) including the need to consider privacy implications.
The federal government's role in the operation of the bail system, such as: setting standards for data collection; legislation affecting bail, e.g. amendments to the Criminal Code including in proposed Bill C-14, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the National Defence Act (bail and sentencing); and engagement with the provinces/territories on considerations related to the bail system generally, e.g. bail and public safety.
Bill C-63, An Act to enact the Online Harms Act, with respect to the creation of the Digital Safety Commission of Canada, state-compelled limitation on free speech by social media operators, Criminal Code amendments pertaining to hate propaganda and hate motivated offences, introduction of hate speech as a ground of discrimination in federal human rights legislation, and the compliance of the legislation as a whole with expressive freedom, privacy and protest rights.
Bill C-5, the Building Canada Act, with respect to the executive powers granted in the bill through the creation of national interest projects.
The policies of the Canada Border Services Agency in relation to the use of digital devices and tools at the border when carrying out CBSA functions.
Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places), and specifically that its new anti-protests provisions risk criminalizing peaceful protestors; its problematic removal of Attorney General consent requirement for hate propaganda charges; that its new standalone hate crime offence is unduly stigmatizing and paves the way to excessive sentences; that its proposed definition of hatred does not align with Supreme Court of Canada precedents; and concerns regarding the addition of a "promotion of terrorism" offence.
Bill C-16, Protecting Victims Act. Charter and civil liberties concerns about the legislation, particularly in relation to impact on s. 11(b) of the Charter.