The government led by Prime Minister Carney is proposing legislative changes to allow law enforcement to search and seize Canadians’ mail. This proposal is outlined in the 2026 spring economic update on page 145 of a 167-page document.
The amendment to the Canada Post Corporation Act aims to enable law enforcement to lawfully search and seize mail with authorization from an Act of Parliament. The government clarifies that this change will not permit warrantless search and seizure but will enable law enforcement to obtain warrants for all types of mail. Currently, warrants can only be obtained for packages and mail weighing over 500 grams.
Recent police investigations have uncovered drug smuggling operations using mail services provided by Canada Post. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police has previously advocated for this legislative change. The government’s previous bill, C-2, which proposed warrantless search and seizures for mail under 500 grams, faced criticism and was replaced by a new bill, C-22.
Prime Minister Carney has defended the concept of lawful access, emphasizing the importance of granting law enforcement additional authority to access information and communications. The government aims to simplify data access for police, addressing concerns raised by law enforcement agencies regarding consistency and reliability when dealing with electronic service providers for investigative purposes.
The proposed changes will be subject to debate in the House of Commons before a vote. The Liberal government, bolstered by recent byelection wins and floor-crossers, now holds a majority in Parliament, facilitating the passage of proposed legislation. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne justified the inclusion of this public safety issue in the economic update as part of transparently informing Canadians about the government’s measures.
