This act was developed in response to a very real and pressing need. Canadians have told us in clear terms that they want their personal data protected no matter where it goes, no matter who uses it, trades it or holds it.
Business wants a level playing field, with competitors bound by the same rules.
As well, Canadians want the option to communicate with their governments electronically. Privacy is something that Canadians feel very strongly about. Bill C-6 will give Canadians the privacy protection which they desire and which they are entitled to receive. The bill is a legitimate exercise of the federal government's authority to legislate in respect of trade and commerce in Canada. The increasing ubiquity of networks and the speed of the technology means companies are collecting more information, circulating it more widely and combining it more ingeniously than ever before.