Canada’s Secretary of State for Combating Crime, Ruby Sahota, was in Barrie this week, meeting with police leadership and community groups to discuss crime prevention and proposed changes to federal law aimed at modernizing police investigations.
Sahota met with Barrie Police Chief Rich Johnston and other local leaders. Discussions were focussed on Bill C‑22, proposed federal legislation that would establish clearer rules for how police can lawfully access basic digital information during criminal investigations.
Sahota told Barrie 360 Canada’s Criminal Code has not kept pace with technology, creating barriers for law enforcement in cases that increasingly rely on digital evidence.
“Every type of crime has a digital footprint,” she said, noting smartphones, social media and internet services are now central to investigations ranging from fraud to violent crime.
Listen below to our interview with Ruby Sahota on the What Barrie's Talking About podcast. It is the first item.
Bill C‑22 is designed to create a standardized framework for how police request basic subscriber information, such as a name or address, linked to an IP address or phone number. Sahota emphasized the bill does not give police access to private communications without court authorization.
Police would still need judicial approval for deeper searches, such as accessing emails or searching computers.
The bill, she said, is about speeding up early investigative steps while maintaining privacy protections.
“We have tied our police's hands behind their backs, and there's no one restricting the criminals, right?” Sahota added that Canada is lagging behind peer countries that already have similar systems in place.
During her Barrie stop, Sahota also spoke with officers working in child exploitation investigation - cases she described as particularly time-sensitive.
Police often rely on digital leads originating from U.S.-based organizations that monitor online platforms for illegal content. Delays in accessing basic information, Sahota said, can slow efforts to protect victims and remove harmful material.
Sahota acknowledged public privacy concerns but stressed the proposed law is narrowly focused.
“The purpose really is, and what's really near and dear to my heart, is to keep Canadians safe,” she said.
Bill C‑22 has been attempted in various forms by both Liberal and Conservative governments since 2012. The current version is a standalone bill with a more limited scope, developed following consultations with telecom companies, civil liberties groups and law enforcement.
The federal government is seeking cross‑party support to move the legislation forward as quickly as possible.
